A mathematical model published in npj Aging estimated that if nearly every reversible hallmark of aging were eliminated, leaving only somatic mutations, the median human life span would be 146–194 years.
Notes on verification
Confirmed directly by the peer-reviewed primary source (npj Aging) and corroborated by multiple independent science journalism outlets (ScienceAlert, Newsweek, Medical Xpress). Note some discrepancy with an earlier bioRxiv preprint version, but the final published figures match the claim exactly. [tier=gold indep_score=0.838 clusters=4 claim_tier=exceptional]
Sources
- Longevity: Humans Could Live for Up to 194 Years, Researchers Say (seed:health_and_medicine)
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-026-00421-6 (corroboration)
- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-upper-limit-human-lifespan-somatic.html (corroboration)
- https://www.sciencealert.com/ultimate-limit-of-the-human-lifespan-may-be-identified-study-suggests (corroboration)
- https://www.newsweek.com/somatic-mutations-limit-human-lifespan-aging-study-12205984 (corroboration)