Rector of RNIM named after Pirogov called the limit of life expectancy of people

The maximum human life expectancy for the last thousand years has not changed and is still 122-125 years, said the rector of the Russian National Research Medical University named after N. I. Pirogov, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Lukyanov at the festival “Science 0+”.

“We still run into limits: no one has advanced beyond 122-125 years ago or today. The age limit is still the same, Lukyanov said at the festival's Star Lecture.

According to the scientist, the basis of aging of living organisms is a program that determines the life expectancy characteristic of each species. It provides the renewal of organisms needed to adapt to changing conditions.

“Only new generations can change. Among them, according to Darwin, the fittest are selected. And the old ones should be removed, otherwise they will eat all the food along with the young ones. The competition of young people is difficult to withstand. And there is a stable system when each species has a characteristic lifespan, which is limited by a certain program, the academician added.

Science 0+ Festival is an international popular science and educational project aimed at popularizing science among people of different ages.

Earlier, HSE Vice-Rector, Director of the Institute of Social Policy Lilia Ovcharova said in the Tamantsev program. As a result, a decrease in mortality among working-age men can increase life expectancy in Russia by three to four years. According to her, Russia is among the ten countries with the largest gap in the life expectancy of men and women.