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Can DNA Mutations Set a 194-Year Biological Limit on Human Lifespan?
M
Moneycontrol•15-10-2026, 15:27
Can DNA Mutations Set a 194-Year Biological Limit on Human Lifespan?
- •A mathematical study published in npj Aging explores whether human lifespan could reach between 146 and 194 years if most causes of ageing were eliminated, leaving only accumulated DNA mutations.
- •Somatic mutations are changes in DNA that occur in the body's cells over a lifetime, driven by replication errors or uncorrected damage, contributing to aging and disease.
- •The brain and heart act as key theoretical bottlenecks because neurons and cardiomyocytes divide very little, making it difficult to replace cells that lose function.
- •Tissues with higher cell turnover, such as the liver, are less restrictive to longevity in the model due to their natural regenerative capabilities.
- •The findings represent a theoretical model under extreme assumptions rather than a medical prediction, while the oldest verified human lifespan remains 122 years.
Key Questions Answered
A mathematical study published in npj Aging suggests that if most causes of ageing were eliminated, accumulated somatic mutations could still cap the median human lifespan between 146 and 194 years, with a central estimate around 156 years.
The study identified neurons in the brain and cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) as primary constraints because they divide very little or not at all, limiting their capacity to replace cells damaged by accumulated mutations.
Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment holds the record as the oldest verified person, having lived for 122 years and 164 days until her death in 1997.
