At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Aubrey de Grey, a leading figure in the longevity movement, presented his vision for achieving "longevity escape velocity" through continuous advancements in rejuvenation technologies. De Grey outlined how the concept of ageing as an accumulation of damage has moved from a fringe idea to being accepted in mainstream science. He also discussed the importance of advocacy efforts, such as the Dublin Longevity Declaration, in pushing forward regulatory and societal acceptance of life-extending therapies​.

Key Points:

• Longevity Escape Velocity: Aubrey de Grey introduced the concept of "longevity escape velocity," the point at which medical interventions repair age-related damage faster than it accumulates, potentially allowing people to remain biologically young indefinitely.
• The Hallmarks of Aging: He discussed how the concept of ageing as the accumulation of damage has shifted from a radical idea to mainstream science. This was significantly influenced by the 2013 "Hallmarks of Aging" paper.
• Divide and Conquer Strategy: De Grey emphasized the need to develop and combine various therapies that target different forms of damage to the body. He believes this combined approach will be more effective at slowing or reversing ageing.
• Progress and Mainstreaming: He highlighted that longevity research is no longer on the fringe, with significant advancements in labs worldwide and many technologies moving into the private sector.
• The Dublin Longevity Declaration: De Grey mentioned the importance of the Dublin Longevity Declaration, launched the previous year, which promotes awareness and advocacy for accelerating progress toward longevity and rejuvenation therapies.
• Future of Longevity Research: He pointed out that the field is now reaching a point where regulatory and funding structures need modernization, and emphasized the growing support for the longevity movement among scientists, the public, and policymakers.