All religions reflect on death, and most of the biological sciences have at some point in history attempted to cheat death. Although life is one game where we all die, that has not stopped great thinkers throughout history trying to prolong this ultimate exit.
Folklore and Science play a duet in this field. Both feed off of each other and only meet in the court of law. In the latest instance, the co-founders of the Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine sued professors Olshansky and Perls for mocking their claims for anti-aging therapy, saying it does not exist. Although both sides settled, the case highlights the divide that has grown because of our ignorance about aging. This is a two part story exploring the interesting history of how this schism emerged.
Folklore gives us three basic themes of the prolongation of life. The classic theme is the “Antediluvian,” referring to the time before the biblical flood, when people are said to have lived much longer. According to the Book of Genesis (5:27), Methuselah lived 969 years, dying in the year of the Great Flood, which has been interpreted as a turning point when humankind lost this enhanced longevity. Although Methuselah’s age is an error in translating units of time, his name remains as the catchphrase for longevity.
The second theme is “Hyperborean,” referring to the belief that people live longer in some parts of the world, ostensibly to the “north.” This folklore cropped up recently in a 2009 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner, where he referred to communities that have a high concentration of centenarians as “Blue Zones.” Aging clusters exist all over the world, due to a myriad of factors that contribute to longevity. Geography is only one of these. More likely, longevity is a result of common dietary, spiritual and lifestyle practices which are shared in these Blue Zones.
And last, but certainly not least, the most tenacious and pervasive concept is that of the “Fountain of Youth,” which refers to the ability to ingest or administer some substance that enables people the power to live longer. Although incorrectly associated with Ponce De Leon (1535) a Spanish explorer in Florida, the concept of rejuvenating springs has a much longer history, going back to Herodotus in the 5th century BC .
More recently in 1889, Adolphe Brown-Séquard injected himself under the skin with an aqueous extract of dog and guinea pig testicles. Although it did not catch on, this practice led to more ambitious experiments by Serge Voronoff, who started transplanting chimpanzee thyroids on people suffering from thyroid problems and later grafting monkey testicles into human scrotums. By the early 1930's, more than 500 men had undergone this surgery. It became so popular that the supply of monkey testicles was insufficient, so Voronoff built his own monkey house.
The Fountain of Youth theme persists today, embraced and promoted by the Anti-Aging movement. As elusive as this theme is, it is our desire for youth that still nourishes the fountain.
Mario Garrett is a professor of Gerontology at San Diego State University can be reached mariusgarrett@yahoo.com
© Mario Garrett 2010
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