Many individuals hold the mistaken belief that the ability to cure cancer or extend the human lifespan will grant them immortality. Even if we were able to significantly extend human lifespans through advancements in stem cell therapy, gene therapy, or other medical interventions, there are several reasons why humans would not be able to live forever, and they include:
- Accidents: Accidents are a leading cause of premature death. No matter how advanced our medical technologies become, accidents can happen at any time and can be fatal. These include car crashes, falls, industrial accidents, and other unforeseen events.
- Natural Disasters: Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, can cause widespread destruction and loss of life. These events are beyond our control and can have a devastating impact on individuals and communities.
- Human Mistakes: Human errors can lead to catastrophic consequences. Mistakes in various fields, including medicine, transportation, and engineering, can result in accidents or disasters that cause loss of life. Human fallibility is a constant factor in the equation.
- Disease and Pathogens: While advances in medical science may enable us to address many diseases and conditions, new diseases can emerge, and pathogens can evolve. Infectious diseases, in particular, can still pose significant threats to human life, even with advanced medical treatments.
- Environmental Changes: Environmental changes, such as climate change and pollution, can have long-term effects on the planet’s habitability. These changes can lead to food shortages, water scarcity, and other human survival challenges.
- Social and Political Factors: Social and political factors, including conflicts, wars, and social upheavals, can disrupt societies and lead to loss of life and instability. These factors are not solely dependent on advances in medicine or technology.
- Resource Limitations: Even with extended lifespans, the Earth’s finite resources, such as food, water, and energy, could become strained as the global population grows. Ensuring equitable access to these resources will remain a challenge.
- Ethical Considerations: The ethical implications of greatly extending human lifespans must also be carefully considered. Questions related to overpopulation, resource allocation, and the quality of life in an extended lifespan scenario would need to be addressed.
Recap, while advances in medical science, including stem cell and gene therapies, may help us address some underlying causes of aging and age-related diseases, numerous external factors and existential risks could still limit the human lifespan. Achieving immortality or even extreme longevity remains a complex and multifaceted challenge, and it is unlikely that humans can ever live indefinitely in a world filled with unpredictable events and external threats. This is my humble opinion.