From Alexander the Great’s fabled search for the Fountain of Youth, to legendary quests for the Holy Grail, the desire to live forever has transfixed scientists, artists and kings. Whether it be miraculous elixirs, holy cups or young blood, authors and filmmakers keep returning to this theme. And now it’s my turn, with my latest speculative thriller, The Cure.
The Cure is about a scientist, Ruth, who finds a cure for old age whilst researching the disease that killed her young daughter. Just one injection reverses your biological clock, driving lifespan to a new high. But Ruth’s discovery triggers a series of global disasters.
I based the novel on real-life anti-ageing therapies that are in development. So I thought it might be interesting to revisit some rejuvenation classics and ask: could this ever happen?
The Substance
This acclaimed horror movie paints a savage view of a misogynistic Hollywood that fosters impossible expectations of enduring beauty. Demi Moore gives a fabulous no-holds-barred performance as an ageing aerobics instructor who injects a distinctly dodgy-looking serum that unleashes a younger version of herself. But would a serum like this work?
The short answer is, no. I’m not aware of any research that splits a person in two. But multiple projects are investigating how to rejuvenate our bodies at a cellular level by altering our DNA. Gene therapies can reprogramme cells to a more youthful state, halting and reversing the ageing process: exactly like Ruth’s therapy in The Cure. In fact, you can buy yourself a full body treatment right now, that targets all the critical age-related areas.
The only problem is, it’s unlicensed, untested and costs $1,180,000…
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Bram Stoker didn’t invent vampires, but his 1897 classic crowned Count Dracula the king. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Dracula as the most portrayed literary character on screen ever, and it still shocks to this day. You might assume that ancient beings consuming human blood to stay alive is a concept confined to fiction, but it does have some basis in science.
A macabre research technique called parabiosis is where two animals are surgically joined to share the same circulatory system. Many ageing experiments have demonstrated that when a young rodent is attached to an elderly one, the juvenile’s blood makes the old rodent younger. This grim finding inspired a Silicon Valley startup to flog blood plasma harvested from 16 to 25-year-olds to elderly clients for the princely sum of $8000 (yes, really). There was no evidence that young blood infusions rejuvenated anyone, and two years later the FDA shut them down.
So any would-be vampires out there: keep your pointy old teeth to yourselves.
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade
This rampageous romp across continents reinvents the Arthurian quest for the Holy Grail.
Who can forget Indy navigating those deadly traps in the temple, or the arch baddie drinking from the wrong chalice and crumbling to dust? But surely no cup, however holy, can make us live forever? Depends on what’s in the cup.
Huge sums are being invested in a diverse array of drugs: from pills that kill off toxic cells that accumulate during the ageing process to tablets that promote cellular repair. The pace and quantity of research is accelerating.
Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant originally developed for organ transplants, is considered highly promising, and a large study is underway in dogs. Metformin is a diabetes drug but studies show that those taking it, even with diabetes, live longer than those who don’t.
Maybe popping pills from your golden chalice might just be the answer.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This cautionary tale of a hedonistic, wealthy aristocrat who wishes his portrait would age instead of him, was inspired by Wilde’s own portrait. He wrote afterwards: ‘I said in jest, ‘What a tragic thing it is. This portrait will never grow older and I shall. If it was only the other way!” The moment I had said this it occurred to me what a capital plot the idea would make for a story.’
Can you make a thing happen just because you ardently wish it? Some people think so. Particularly those with the necessary cash.
Take Bryan Johnson: an American millionaire who devotes his entire fortune and daily existence to staving off old age. Bryan takes vast quantities of supplements, adheres to strict dietary, exercise and sleep regimes, and biohacks himself with unlicensed drugs. He’s even had blood transfusions from his teenage son. He is not alone. Many renowned billionaires appear obsessed with longevity, splurging out on anti-ageing inventions: the modern incarnation of Wilde’s immoral gentry, pursuing their dreams of eternal youth, whatever the cost.
How about you, then? If a cure for ageing were discovered, would you be tempted?
If so, perhaps you should read my book.
Eve Smith is the critically acclaimed author of four speculative thrillers: The Cure, One, Off-Target and The Waiting Rooms, published by Orenda Books.
The Cure is out on the 10th April.
