Scientists are paying attention to developing longevity technologies that could extend the maximum human lifespan to more than 120 to 130 years.

Cryptopolitan reported on April 20 local time that average life expectancy has continued to rise, but the record for the longest lifespan humans have actually reached has seen little change for decades, making a biotechnology breakthrough a key challenge.

Longevity research expert Shmuel Rands noted that current life expectancy has risen sharply from under 40 years in the 19th century. A related report said global average life expectancy in 2024 was 73.3 years, rebounding after falling to 70.9 years during the COVID-19 pandemic period of 2020 to 2021. Some places, such as Japan and Hong Kong, have life expectancy around 85 years.

The discussion starts from the point that the maximum lifespan has stagnated, separate from gains in average lifespan. Rands said average life expectancy has increased over the past 75 years, but the maximum lifespan has stayed at nearly the same level. The longest-lived person on official record to date is France's Jeanne Calment, who lived 122 years and 164 days. Several forecasting models also estimate the maximum human lifespan in the 120 to 130-year range.

Rands said it was unlikely that humans will live for hundreds of years this century or exceed 120 by several decades or more. Still, he explained that the key premise of "longevity escape velocity" is that, if breakthroughs in medicine and longevity science continue, the upper limit of human lifespan can ultimately exceed 120 and 130.

Attention is focused on technologies moving into actual clinical stages. Life Biosciences began preparing earlier this month for a partial reprogramming trial in humans. The therapy seeks to reverse cells' biological age, and it would be the first case if related clinical trials begin. Researchers confirmed potential in animal tests and plan to apply the same therapy to 12 glaucoma patients and 6 patients with NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), which can cause acute optic nerve-related vision loss in people aged 50 or older.

Other companies are also releasing early clinical results. Rubedo Life Sciences in March announced positive initial results from the first human clinical trial of its anti-aging treatment RLS-1496. The drug was tested for 4 weeks in patients with eczema, psoriasis and sun-damaged skin, and the company said it worked beyond expectations.

Research collaboration is also increasing. Last month, the LEV Foundation led by Aubrey de Grey partnered with Human Longevity to study super-aged people between 100 and 110 years old. The researchers plan to use findings on why aging speeds differ by person to help develop interventions to slow aging.

In this trend, the focus of longevity research is shifting from extending average lifespan to whether it can actually change the limits of maximum lifespan. Current technology and medicine have not yet reached that stage, but with progress continuing in recent years, a key point to watch will be how far cellular senescence intervention technologies are validated in clinical settings.