Longevity: how long can you live?

Ritesh Bawri

24 Jul 2025 — 2 min read

Photo by Mathias Konrath / Unsplash

Longevity and even living forever have become topics of discussion in our living rooms.

But how long can we actually live?

The belief so far has been that the human body has a built-in clock. At some point, that clock runs out.

What is driving this ceiling?

Each cell in our body divides to create new cells. This process is not infinite. With every division, the tip of our chromosome, called telomeres, shortens.

Think of them like the plastic caps on your shoelaces. When these caps wear out, the laces fray. Our cells behave the same way.

Once telomeres become too short, the cell can no longer divide. It enters a state called senescence. Neither alive nor dead but not functioning.

This limits how long our tissues and organs can renew themselves.

Some scientists believe that this cellular limit sets a ceiling on human lifespan, often estimated at around 120 years. Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122, is the longest verified case.

It’s rare because our biology is designed for survival, not immortality. DNA damage accumulates. Free radicals, unstable molecules produced during normal metabolism, slowly break down our cells.

Our repair systems get weaker with age.

We also face the problem of stem cell exhaustion. Stem cells are like the master builders of the body, ready to create new cells when needed.

Over decades, these builders slow down, reducing our ability to heal or regenerate. Add to this the slow decline of our immune system, and it becomes clear why age catches up with us.

So, can we live longer than this limit?

Some researchers are exploring ways to lengthen telomeres, repair DNA, or rejuvenate cells. But each fix comes with risks, including cancer, which thrives on uncontrolled cell division.

After years of speaking about, learning from others and also intense discussions, I have come to the conclusion that immortality is not a real goal.

How you live when you are alive is more important.

Happy Birthday to the best father on earth. You taught us to learn and grow and live every moment that we are alive.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain

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