Ask Aubrey de Grey About Longevity Research

There may be such a thing as a conventional scientist -- but Aubrey de Grey is not one. Instead, biogerontologist de Grey has spent much of the last 20 years investigating the science of aging by considering the aging process as a multifaceted disease whose manifestations can be mitigated, rather than an inevitability to merely accept. That might not be unusual in itself, but de Grey believes that by addressing the causes and symptoms of aging, human life can be extended to at least 1000 years — a stance has earned him accolades and contempt in various degrees. (He might not especially mind being called names like "rogue" and "maverick," though.) De Grey is also chairman and chief science officer of The Methuselah Foundation, whose M-Prize for extending the lifespan of mice has been mentioned on Slashdot before. Ask de Grey about his research below; he'll answer the top-rated questions, and we'll publish them in this space. The usual Slashdot interview rules apply — so ask all the questions you'd like, but please confine yourself to one per post.

Re:What Have we Learned so far?

[theJavaMan]

Viruses, goddamnit! Not virii, viruses!

Re:His "PhD"

[Daniel Dvorkin]

If you went to Cambridge, and you can convince that institution that the work you've done in your twenty years since deserves a PhD, then you can have one too.

Move aside, Aubrey!

[Yvan256]

It's time to leave science to the hundred-twenty-year-olds. - Farnsworth

Re:Jason Pontin on de Grey

[caerus]

and it is for the article in Technology Review that Jason published this comment in which led to him being soundly spanked by a huge number of readers and ultimately the "SENS Challenge" which he moderated was lost by Aubrey de Grey's detractors. Have a look.. the fact that you bring this adhominem attack up really shows you don't know much about the argument or the outcome of Jason's lack of tact.. and illustrates perfect the ignorance of the science.

Re:Practical repurcussions

[geekoid]

Yes he has. Perhaps you should look him up before asking the same question he has gotten for years?

BTW, we are not currently 'overpopulated'.
Sheesh.

Re:Jason Pontin on de Grey

[Anonymous Coward]

(Disclaimer: I volunteer with the Methuselah Foundation.)

Research is funded largely through donations. There's information on the MFoundation site: http://mfoundation.org (it's being totally revamped later this year, so please excuse the amateur presentation... we're volunteers :)

Public speaking is necessary to raise awareness, and awareness is key to securing funding. It is STAGGERING how little public money is spent to address root causes of aging, rather than the individual diseases that result.

One of de Grey's primary day-to-day tasks is reviewing vast quantities of published research data relevant to SENS. Most of this stuff is collected by (staggeringly well-educated and capable) research assistants that comb publications (PubMed, PNAS, PLOS, etc.) for material. While he may not spend most of his time in the lab, he is most certainly informed and actively directing current research projects.

Re:Practical repurcussions

[Gospodin]

The traditional (historical) recourse to labor scarcity has been slavery or indentured servitude.

As DarkSarin points out, this is exactly backwards. Cf the effects of the Black Death on Europe - vastly increased power flowing to serfs (leading to the end of serfdom itself).