Can Organ Transplants Halt Aging?, At a Beijing military parade, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin jokingly discussed whether organ transplants could slow the aging process. Putin’s translator, speaking in Mandarin, suggested that repeated transplants might keep someone “younger and younger,” potentially delaying old age “indefinitely” and allowing people to live up to 150 years this century. Though their laughter indicated humor, is there any truth to their idea?
Organ Transplants: Life-Saving, Not Life-Extending
Organ transplants have saved countless lives, with the UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant reporting over 100,000 lives saved in the past 30 years. Medical improvements have increased the lifespan of transplanted organs, with some kidneys functioning for over 50 years. Organ longevity depends on donor and recipient health and post-transplant care. Kidneys from living donors last 20-25 years, while those from deceased donors last 15-20 years. Livers typically last around 20 years, hearts about 15, and lungs roughly 10. However, multiple transplants to prolong life carry significant risks, including surgical complications and lifelong immunosuppressant drugs, which can cause side effects like high blood pressure and increased infection risk. Rejection, when the immune system attacks the new organ, remains a challenge despite medication.
Innovative Approaches to Rejection
Scientists are addressing rejection through xenotransplantation, using genetically modified pig organs edited with CRISPR to improve compatibility with humans. Pig organs are appropriately sized for humans, and although still experimental, pig-to-human heart and kidney transplants have been attempted, making progress despite the recipients’ eventual deaths. Another approach involves growing organs from human stem cells, which can develop into any cell type. In 2020, UK researchers rebuilt a human thymus using stem cells and a bioengineered scaffold, showing promise in mice. Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital are also developing stem cell-based intestinal grafts for children. These innovations target disease treatment, not achieving extreme longevity.
The Limitations of Longevity
Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has explored anti-aging methods, including plasma infusions from his son, but stopped after seeing no benefits and facing regulatory scrutiny. Dr. Julian Mutz from King’s College London states that such experimental approaches, including plasma replacement, have uncertain effects on lifespan. Professor Neil Mabbott from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute believes 125 years could be the maximum human lifespan, citing Jeanne Calment’s record of 122 years (1875–1997). Aging weakens resilience to infections, injuries, and surgical stress, and immunosuppressants complicate health for older patients. Mabbott advocates focusing on healthspan, years lived in good health, rather than extreme lifespan extension. “Enduring constant hospital visits and transplants isn’t an appealing way to age,” he told BBC News. While Xi and Putin’s playful exchange raises interesting questions, organ transplants remain a means for saving lives, not achieving immortality.
At a Beijing military parade, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin playfully discussed whether organ transplants could slow aging. Putin’s translator, speaking in Mandarin, suggested that repeated transplants might keep someone “younger and younger,” potentially delaying old age “indefinitely” and allowing people to live to 150 this century. Though their laughter suggested humor, is there any merit to their idea?
Organ Transplants: Life-Saving, Not Life-Extending
Organ transplants have saved countless lives, with the UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant reporting over 100,000 lives preserved in the last 30 years. Medical advancements have extended the durability of transplanted organs, with some kidneys functioning for over 50 years. Organ longevity depends on donor and recipient health and post-transplant care. Kidneys from living donors last 20-25 years, while those from deceased donors last 15-20 years. Livers typically endure 20 years, hearts 15, and lungs about 10. However, multiple transplants to extend life carry significant risks, including surgical complications and lifelong immunosuppressant drugs, which can cause side effects like high blood pressure and increased infection risk. Rejection, where the immune system attacks the new organ, remains a challenge despite medication.
Innovative Solutions to Rejection
Scientists are tackling rejection through xenotransplantation, using genetically modified pig organs edited with CRISPR to enhance human compatibility. Pig organs are well-sized for humans, and though experimental, pig-to-human heart and kidney transplants have been attempted, advancing the field despite the recipients’ eventual deaths. Another approach involves growing organs from human stem cells, which can become any cell type. In 2020, UK researchers rebuilt a human thymus using stem cells and a bioengineered scaffold, showing promise in mice. Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital are also developing stem cell-based intestinal grafts for children. These innovations focus on treating disease, not achieving extreme longevity.
The Limits of Longevity
Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has explored anti-aging methods, including plasma infusions from his son, but stopped after seeing no benefits and facing regulatory scrutiny. Dr. Julian Mutz from King’s College London says such experimental approaches, including plasma replacement, show uncertain impacts on lifespan. Professor Neil Mabbott from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute believes 125 years may be the human lifespan ceiling, citing Jeanne Calment’s 122 years (1875–1997) as the record. Aging reduces resilience to infections, injuries, and surgical stress, and immunosuppressants complicate matters for older patients. Mabbott argues for prioritizing healthspan years lived healthily over extreme longevity. “Enduring constant hospital visits and transplants isn’t an appealing way to age,” he told BBC News. While Xi and Putin’s banter raises intriguing questions, organ transplants remain a tool for saving lives, not granting immortality.
