Scientific Controversies No. 29: Is Aging a Disease?

Death is the culmination of life, as they say. Organisms are born, mature, age, and die. The most rudimentary observations of the natural world insist that this cycle of life is inexorable. Seeds yield fruit that will ripen then rot if not harvested. And always in that order: seed, fruit, ripen, rot. Animals experience a complex life cycle, but still with a simple, assured order. There is an ascent and then a decline. This culmination of life in death, to much consternation, is inevitable. Or is it? Are decaying, aging, and dying truly scientifically predestined? Is aging a disease? And is there a cure? With advances in biology and genetics, could scientists pause, or even reverse, the process? Would a cure for aging indefinitely stave off death? And what would the implications be for 8 billion people on this planet if we cease to die?

The Pioneer Works director of sciences, Prof. Janna Levin, will host two brilliant biologists in conversation. Prof. David Sinclair of Harvard investigates a range of processes and techniques to acquire a unified understanding of the aging process, and Prof. Ali Brivanlou of Rockefeller University explores human embryonic stem cells and synthetic embryos to explore the emergence of life. Join them in conversation to contemplate if a deeper understanding of life could lead to a cure for death.

Before and after the conversation, Grand Cook will offer a menu that explores aging as a culinary art. The menu will feature preserved and aged ingredients like pickles and ferments, showcasing how chefs transform decay into deliciousness or intervene to suspend an ingredient at the peak of its season. You can learn more about his approach on thegrandcook.com. And, come early to enjoy the opportunity to explore cell specimens and hang out with biologists from GenSpace. There’ll be rare grooves from DJ Black Helmet and, weather permitting, stargazing with astronomers from the Amatuer Astronomers Association in our garden.

Prof. David A. Sinclair heads a leading research lab best known for its work on aging and longevity. He has published over 180 papers, holds more than 50 patents, and is a co-founder of over a dozen companies, including MetroBiotech, and Life Biosciences. Recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Prof Sinclair is the New York Times bestselling author of Lifespan: Why We Age-And Why We Don’t Have To and host of the Lifespan podcast. His work has been featured in major media outlets like Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and he has received over 40 awards, including the National Institutes of Health’s Pioneer Award and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia. Prof Sinclair co-founded the journal Aging and Fully Aligned Co, which promotes wellbeing through access to knowledge and tools. He also holds board seats in several organizations.

Dr. Ali H. Brivanlou, Robert and Harriet Heilbrunn Professor and head of the Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology at Rockefeller, is an international leader in the effort to understand the intricacies of human development, with a focus on embryonic stem cells and their therapeutic potential. His studies employ high-resolution quantitative approaches, spanning both theoretical physics and molecular embryology, to offer insights into human reproductive biology, as well as disorders such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Janna Levin is the founding director of sciences at Pioneer Works and the founding editor-in-chief of Broadcast. She is a professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. Her most recent book is Black Hole Survival Guide.

The Scientific Controversies series is supported by the Simons Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology, bridging the two cultures of science and the arts.