The longevity industry, backed by venture capitalists, celebrity investors, and pharmaceutical companies, is rapidly growing, with many products and services claiming to extend human lifespan or even reverse aging. However, experts warn that much of this industry’s offerings lack solid scientific evidence to support their claims. From peptides and functional mushroom powders to ice baths, saunas, and cryotherapy chambers, these products and services often come with hefty price tags and uncertain benefits.
At the heart of the issue is the industry’s prioritization of profit over evidence. Many of these “innovations” are not backed by high-quality research, and some, like full-body MRIs, can even lead to unnecessary testing, overdiagnosis, and anxiety. For instance, full-body MRIs are often marketed as a way to detect cancer and other abnormalities early, but there’s no evidence that these scans improve health outcomes in healthy individuals. In fact, medical colleges worldwide do not recommend full-body MRIs for healthy people due to the risk of “incidentalomas” – unexpected findings that may prompt unnecessary follow-up procedures, costs, and anxiety.
The industry’s approach to health is also fundamentally different from mainstream medicine’s focus on evidence-based prevention. While longevity enthusiasts often advocate for extreme interventions, medical professionals emphasize simple, proven measures like regular exercise, healthy food, sound sleep, meaningful relationships, and fair access to evidence-based medical treatment. By medicalizing aging, the longevity movement risks embedding ageism into everyday commerce and diverting attention and resources away from important public health system functions that can improve quality of life for millions.
Moreover, the quest for immortality is not only potentially futile but also potentially costly. As the ancient Greeks cautioned, those who sought immortality often found it came at a terrible cost. The mythical Tithonus, for example, was doomed to endless aging and decline after being granted eternal life without eternal youth. Similarly, modern-day billionaires like Bryan Johnson, who reportedly spends millions on his longevity regimen, may be setting themselves up for unforeseen consequences.
