More life - Decoding the secret of aging | DW Documentary

Can the aging process be reversed - or even halted, altogether? If we manage to decode this final mystery of our human biology, we might soon be able to eradicate age-related illnesses like cancer, dementia and heart problems.

The race to invent the miracle pill is well underway. Today, international researchers are getting astonishingly close to realizing humanity’s dream of immortality.

The hunt for immortality gained traction with the discovery of Costa Rica’s so-called "Blue Zone,” by Luis Rosero-Bixby. In the "Blue Zone,” on the Nicoya Peninsular, he found a remarkable number of centenarians. Here, male life expectancy is the highest in the world. Their healthy lifestyle is one factor, but the promise of longevity is probably also because their telomeres - sections of DNA found at the end of chromosomes - are longer than those of the average person.

It’s a field of research currently being explored by Maria Blasco in Madrid. But this is just one of many possible factors influencing the process of aging. Senescent cells may also play a key role. Also known as "zombie cells”, these attack our body in old age and flood it with alarm signals until, at some point, we collapse under their weight. That’s a theory proposed by another researcher in Spain, Manuel Serrano.

A billion-dollar industry is already knocking impatiently at the lab doors. The first to market the miracle pill is guaranteed incredible wealth. That’s why investors are sponsoring young bio-startups in Hong Kong. Keen not be left out, US Big Tech is vying for the world’s best scientists. Alex Zhavoronkov has secured a slice of that pie, with a cash injection of more than 250 million dollars for his company’s work on aging research.

Whereas some pioneers’ visions burst like bubbles, others rush to get other, rather more dubious products onto the market. But their efficacy is now measurable. The epigenetic clock devised by Steve Horvath can measure our biological age, regardless of our actual age in years.

With his research on the thymus gland, California’s Greg Fahy managed to not only decelerate the aging process, but reverse it. His initial study on humans showed that a particular drug cocktail took an average two-and-a-half years off their age.

Young biohackers like Nina Khera from Boston want everyone to benefit from this research. Together with friends, she’s working on the "epigenetic clock for all”.
But while we’re busy trying to counter the aging process and all the illnesses it entails, fundamental questions arise: Should we be messing with nature like this? Are we about to overwhelm the planet with more and more people? Criminal biologist Mark Benecke in Cologne says that these questions are coming far too late.

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We are proud to announce that this documentary has won Best Science Film at the Prague International Film Festival 2022. 🏆 Congratulations to the director Martin Koddenberg and everyone involved in making the documentary! 🎉

[esego]

I'm 75 now but years of poverty and high stress have surely affected me. When I was a kid I received a weekly allowance that I saved carefully in order to buy books that I wanted. I was always a stellar reader. However, I was never athletic how ever hard I tried. My mother died when I was young and life became a world of stress with idiot caretakers and boring jobs. It's only recently that I've had the income to live as I've always wanted--or even thought I deserved. I am not wealthy by any means but I now have money that I will spend on my Mexican friend's daughter's college education. I will be gone but this young woman will be my legacy although I won't live to see it. I am proud of my accomplishments but those are not monetary. I have serious medical problems now but believe that I have lived a miserable yet wonderful life. Experiences beyond our comfort zones keep us young.

[mahamatmahamatabdoulaye]

How is it possible to produce so many documentaries with such an exceptional quality ?! I'm impressed 👍🏽

[michaell]

Can't believe how wide ranging and in depth all your documentaries are. You guys are leading the pack. Props to your team!

[billyboy]

Wow! As a 51 year old full-time single disabled father raising/raised my 4 AMAZING kids on my own all by myself and BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING grandkids as well. I suffer from & struggle with sickle cell anemia disease and avascular necrosis syndrome causing countless joint replacement surgeries with both knees, right hip, and both of my shoulders next to be replaced with titanium as well! It was was very interesting and thought provoking as i want to be here as long as I can with my family! Thanks DW for the content of documentaries that you provide!🙏🏿 You do a great job of it imo!👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[atreus]

These kids are amazing! This is where youths consciousness should be going, science not selfies!

[splinterbyrd]

In a nursing home the other day I met a gentleman with various disabilities and mobility issues aged 75. But I imagine my amazement when I discovered his *mother* was also a resident at the same nursing home, frail but bright as a button age 97!

[eugenemorrison]

Paraphrasing from 34:00 - 'Guys like Amazon, Netflix, video game companies will invest in longevity so you have more time... to waste on their products.'

That one hits hard.

[seitanbeatsyourmeat]

My Italian grand-MIL lived on her own and never stopped “going” (on her own) until 93. She suddenly went downhill and went into a care home and died just a few months after turning 94. I think she was there 4 months… she died from an undiscovered septic infection of just a few days. It took her quickly; she lived through 2 pandemics: when she was a child and covid.
She ate everything, but not too much of anything, and was always active. I really think activity is a big key (there are stairs *everywhere* in Italy, there’s no escaping them), no matter the diet (and genetics!). She farmed, worked the land (olive, almond and citrus trees plus tomatoes and other vegetables), canned her own tomatoes/sauce, made her own pasta. She didn’t eat a lot of meat or cheese but lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, lots of nuts, olives & olive oil of course, breads/pastas and typical Italian spices of oregano, rosemary, garlic, etc.
RIP Bisnonna 🪦 💕

[missshroom]

I think growing and then eating that food makes a world of difference…it’s connection…everything is connected and they add themselves to that connection it looks like. I wish them all well🥰

[sneakyprawn]

The twin that said the test revealed he was biologically 4 years older than his brother actually did look older in my opinion. Also side note; that Thymus man really looks great for 71! 🤯

[autummsun]

Do you really want to live forever ? The earth can’t sustain more than it already has to. Live the best you can.

[thewillsfamilyaccount]

Peaceful.. stress free life.. that's a tough one in this modern world of cities, jobs to sustain us, society etc etc. Fantastic documentary! Thank you..

[sherridevries]

These teens give me a glimmer of hope. They are articulate and so very bright. Way to go !!!! 🔥💕🎉

[mjca]

Another insightful documentary by DW. Seeing these kids engaged in something other than taking selfies or wanting to be the next social media star, gives me (a little) more hope for the future of humanity. Thanks very much for posting and be safe 🙏

[mouse]

Lead a peaceful, stress free life. Spoken like a Zen master.

[metalextras]

DW will take over the world as the premier source of validated documentaries! Thank you DW!

[danwick]

I always thought I would make it to 80-90 but now 120+. After an injury in 2017 and a trip to the hospital they told me my blood sugar was high and asked me if I was diabetic. This threw me because I thought I was in great shape for 49 at the time. I haven't had health insurance since 2008 but I haven't needed it either so this revelation sent me on a mission to learn about my diagnosis. This led me to prolonged fasting, keto and intermittent fasting etc. I started taking cold showers, doing breathing exercises, reduced alcohol to almost non-existent and of course my keto diet combined with OMAD. Blood levels normalized almost immediately, eye sight improved, hair grew in thicker, dropped ten pounds (190-180), became incredibly lean and my skin became clearer and looked much younger. At 54 I am in better shape than I was at 34, I look around 40 and feel great. I am constantly learning and tweaking things to see what works best for me. I haven't taken anything other than regular vitamins and collagen peptide powder for my coffee. I thoroughly scrutinize these items and even research the food sources and organic claims. I am still working on my sleep but I am working on cutting alcohol completely and reducing stress which are the leading two causes to my lack of sleep and aging currently. I appreciate your content and look forward to seeing more.

[jacques.cousteau]

I think the real deal in anti-aging drugs is going to be the eternal youth rather than the eternal life.
Honestly, who wants to live up to 120? Arthritis, blindness, general fatigue and reduced mobility doesn't make it worthy to live to that age. But if you tell an old person you can make them young again, or a middle aged person that they don't have to grow old, bingo! That's where you get the Money.

[jm]

I am so happy to live as long as, I am mentally and physically healthy and can afford to support myself.
I have no desire to battle disease or be mentally unproductive and neither do I want to eat cat food because that is all that there is on the shelf; that I have the resources (savings and pensions and 401 plans last only so long) to provide the purchase of.

Currently, I am marching forward to 70 (nearly there) I have gone to the gym 4 days per week since I was 30, I still work a 45-hour-per-week contract and most people think I am in my 40s.

For me, it has always been diet and exercise.