A booming longevity industry wants to sell us ‘immortality’. There could be hidden costs

If you could, would you pay to live forever? Some Silicon Valley billionaires aren’t just making tech products – they’ve set their sights on immortality^[1].

Social media is flooded with influencers promoting peptides^[2], “functional” mushroom powders^[3] and other (often non-evidence-based) hacks said to maximise your lifespan. Some even claim to reverse your “biological age^[4]”.

The quest to live longer, look younger or just live one’s “best life” has become a booming industry^[5], encompassing treatments as diverse as ice baths^[6], saunas^[7], cryotherapy chambers^[8] and even red light therapy^[9].

But behind much of the marketing and social media posts^[10] are commercial interests willing to cater to a population fearful of ageing and dying.

Nobody lives forever

The key reason humans aren’t immortal hinges on evolution. This process favours genetic traits promoting successful reproduction^[11] and adaptation over those promoting unlimited lifespan for individuals.

The ancient Greeks told cautionary tales about life extension. Those who reached for immortality mostly found this came at a terrible cost. The mythical Tithonus, for example, was doomed to endless ageing and decline^[12] after being granted eternal life without eternal youth.

Fast forward to today, the longevity industry has the backing of venture capital funds^[13], celebrity investors^[14] and pharmaceutical companies^[15].

But much of this money is being funnelled into products and services with little or no evidence for how they actually improve health or lengthen lifespan.

In his well-publicised quest for life extension, US venture capitalist Bryan Johnson reportedly spends millions^[16] and undergoes constant medical testing with the impossible aim of never dying^[17].

Johnson’s longevity regimen includes a hyper-controlled diet, hundreds of daily supplements and strict sleep and exercise routines. He has even received transfusions of his own son’s blood plasma^[18].

We see three major problems with the longevity industry that are a cause for concern.

Profit before evidence

Innovation is central to the longevity industry, attracting an influx of Silicon Valley investors seeking to “hack” the ageing process. Yet, these innovations are infrequently backed by high-quality evidence^[19].

For example, full-body MRI is marketed as a way to identify cancer and other abnormalities early before they are harder to treat. Yet, there is no evidence these scans improve health outcomes^[20]. Medical colleges around the world do not recommend full-body MRI in healthy individuals^[21].

Tests like these can lead to “incidentalomas^[22]” – unexpected findings that may prompt unnecessary follow-up procedures, costs and anxiety.

The longevity industry pitches itself as a disruptive alternative to mainstream health care. But it still depends on that system to function. Scans, blood tests and experimental treatments inevitably flow back^[23] into hospitals and clinics for follow-up, specialist consultations and interventions.

This puts added strain on already stretched services – both financially and in terms of workforce – while arguably delivering little benefit to population health.