Transplanting organs could potentially extend lifespan up to 150 years, according to expert opinions.

In the realm of modern medicine, two pressing issues have come to the forefront: the shortage of transplant organs and the quest to extend human lifespan.

Organ transplants, a medical feat first achieved in the mid-1950s, have since saved or significantly improved the lives of over 800,000 patients in the United States since national recording began in 1988. Successful transplants of kidneys, livers, hearts, pancreases, lungs, and intestines have become commonplace, offering a second chance at life for many. However, the demand for transplant organs far exceeds the supply, with only about 10% of transplant demand being met worldwide.

Organ rejection is a major concern with transplants, and immunosuppressant drugs are used to manage the immune response. Yet, these drugs can cause side effects like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer over the long-term.

Scientists are exploring innovative solutions to this challenge. One such approach is the harnessing of gene editing techniques like CRISPR to genetically modify pig organs, making them effectively "rejection-free". Another strategy involves growing organs from human stem cells, developing lab-grown "mini-organs" called organoids, and deploying 3D bioprinting to produce organs on demand.

As for extending human lifespan, the concept of organ transplantation as a road to immortality has been debunked by Arthur Caplan, a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He emphasises that adding decades to our current lifespan will bring unforeseen new diseases, making it crucial to optimise five tried-and-tested anti-aging strategies: exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social connectivity.

Transcriptional medicine, using technologies like mRNA, CRISPR, and cellular reprogramming, is moving faster than organ manufacturing and xenotransplants. One potential breakthrough lies in targeting the four Yamanaka factors, which could help reverse the hallmarks of aging in humans.

Nir Barzilai, a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, believes that scientists have developed better strategies like gene editing, anti-aging drugs, and stem cell therapies to live longer. However, it's important to note that there is currently no gene-based, anti-aging medication, or stem cell therapy in clinical use that can slow human aging by more than a century.

The debate on whether it's possible to live to 150 years old is heated. While some see it as a pipe dream, others, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, give high chances of it being achievable. Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez, on the other hand, believes that the real future of expanding lifespan lies in techniques that reprogram old diseased organs, rather than transplanting new ones.

Both Xi and Putin's governments, along with countless other global leaders, investors, and scientific institutions, have invested heavily in aging research. The future of medicine is undeniably exciting, as we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the pursuit of a healthier, longer life.