Juan José Alba-Linares and his research team have published a preprint study that examined why different animals age at different rates. They found that epigenetic changes over time could explain why some animals live longer and estimated an upper limit for mammalian lifespan [1].
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A nice study in summary: the problem is the faulty methylations that accumulate in DNA, these accumulate over time and prevent the DNA from being read correctly, which accumulates and causes tissue and organ dysfunction. So the important point is: How can we remove the methylations in DNA?
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As far as I know, Yamanaka Factors are the only treatment that has been shown to (partially) reverse epigenetic age. There are also small molecule alternatives to some of the factors, but these would still need to be administered in very targeted and controlled ways due mainly to cancer risk. This thread gives an overview of some of those alternatives: Chemically induced reprogramming to reverse cellular aging
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The researchers think this could mean that there is a natural limit to how long mammals can live, and they estimate that the maximum lifespan for any mammal, including humans, might be around 220 years.
It’s hard to imagine any mammal living to 220 years naturally (i.e. without any medical interventions). I wonder if they mean that it’s an absolute maximum lifespan of 220 years if medical interventions don’t include therapies to tackle DNA methylation.
My epigenetic age at TruD has been going down.
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It’s hard to imagine any mammal living to 220 years naturally
First I imagine a Bowhead Whale. It’s not that hard.
Then I imagine myself. 
You have to set goals after all.
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Human eggs do it too and do it perfectly!
(And equivalent in almost all species)
So any technology can can grow organs and tissues or even non sentient bodies for replacement would also reverse your epigentic age (and with less risks of cancer than current Yamanaka Factor approaches).
(And such replacement ould replace the other forms of aging too that cell age reversal won’t be enough to fix)
Or what do you say @ng0rge
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Methylations are like scars on DNA.
There are de-methylation agents, but I think we’re still a long way from understanding how to target specific methylation we might want to eliminate, and understanding all the implications of different methylation patterns…
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Love your optimism. It really helps in the morning in addition to a cup of coffee. Thank you. Believe and you will achieve!
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