| Who Wants to Live Forever?As far as anybody | | | | murder and defeat the point of |
| knows, humans are the only animals that have a | | | | the whole exercise. On the other hand, if the brain |
| sense of | | | | could not be rejuvenated |
| mortality. For a very long time - presumably ever | | | | just like the rest of the body, it will die from old age |
| since we gained this awareness of impending death - | | | | anyway.Brains Rarely FailThere are various ways of |
| we have speculated about the prospect of | | | | dealing with this issue. It must be remembered |
| immortality. Not all cultures wish for immortality. Some | | | | that thousands of our brain cells are dying every |
| religions, perhaps most religions, would regard any | | | | day. It is possible for |
| search for immortality as undesirable. With the | | | | new cells to be created, but the rate of cell death is |
| greatest respect to those who do not want | | | | far greater than cell |
| immortality or do not agree with it, we must surely | | | | creation. Whatever the reason, the rate of |
| admit that many of us - including many of religious | | | | aggregate brain cell death seems to |
| faith - would welcome immortality, or at the very | | | | grow as we age. That said, it is very common for |
| least, a prolonged life.Civilisation Produced Old | | | | the brain to remain in a good |
| AgeBefore we look at the ways in which this could | | | | state whilst the rest of the body fails. When people |
| be achieved, let us consider | | | | die of old age, it usually |
| where we are now. Humans have evolved into the | | | | a part of the body - such as the heart - that fails |
| dominant species on earth. Fewer | | | | and rarely the brain itself.ApoptosisWhy do brain cells |
| and fewer predators have threatened us as we | | | | (or neurons) die? There are various causes. They are |
| have gained in strength, cunning | | | | certain illnesses, accidents and the use of certain |
| and inventiveness. As a society we have learned to | | | | drugs (e.g. alcohol) or |
| harness nature to the | | | | other environmental toxins. These factors only play |
| extent that food can be stored and packaged and | | | | a minor part in brain cell |
| eaten without the need for all | | | | death. A more common cause is apoptosis. This is |
| of us to hunt and gather. Medicines have been | | | | where cells effectively commit |
| developed to counter disease. We | | | | suicide. This process is not fully understood but is |
| have found ways of keeping our water clean for | | | | thought to be necessary for |
| drinking. Many of us can heat our | | | | the long term health of the brain. It is thought that |
| homes (or even cool them) when necessary, and to | | | | cells that are in some way |
| a greater or lesser extent look | | | | damaged (for instance their DNA might have |
| after our old as we look after our young. We have | | | | become scrambled) die before they can |
| become civilised.Wear OutThe phenomenon of old | | | | cause damage to the rest of the body. It is also |
| age that civilisation has brought to us sets us apart | | | | thought, however, that apoptosis |
| from other animals. It is virtually unheard of to see | | | | occurs to cells virtually at random. One idea is that, |
| old age amongst wild | | | | as our body fails certain |
| animals. As we have become civilised our bodies | | | | neurons are no longer required and simply expire |
| have not caught up yet. They | | | | rather than use resources. This |
| were never designed to last for centuries because | | | | may be a significant theory: our bodies wear out: we |
| uncivilised man could never | | | | slow down: less stimuli |
| have lasted that long in its wild environment. We die | | | | reach the brain: the brain doesn't need as many |
| because we wear out | | | | neurons: apoptosis results.Introducing New |
| - not because we can't feed or look after ourselves. | | | | CellsPerhaps apoptosis is the key to the fact that our |
| The good news is that we | | | | brains generally outlive |
| are catching up. Each generation (usually) lives longer | | | | the rest of our body. The brain simply gets leaner |
| then the one that went | | | | but stays meaner compared to |
| before. Many of us are choosing healthier lifestyles | | | | other body parts that simply cannot shed unwanted |
| that helps to prolong life. | | | | or bad cells. So why even |
| But we are still wearing out.Body Part | | | | think of transplanting the brain? There is no reason |
| ReplacementScientists and surgeons have become | | | | to replace parts of the |
| increasingly knowledgeable about | | | | brain because unwanted cells die out voluntarily. One |
| transplants of human body parts. The problem of | | | | idea is simply to |
| rejection is not the barrier it | | | | add new cells, prepared with the correct DNA |
| once was. With the advent of DNA technology it is | | | | structure. With nano technology it |
| possible, in theory at least, | | | | would be possible for microscopic robots to enter |
| the "grow" a human body part using the DNA | | | | the body (perhaps through the |
| blueprint found in just a | | | | gut, if taken regularly as a drug) and carry the new |
| small sample. Putting these two facts together, | | | | cells with them to the |
| there is a real chance that we | | | | brain. It may be possible for a one-off procedure to |
| will soon have the means to transplant most body | | | | deposit a culture in the |
| parts. In time we could replace | | | | body that will act as a brain cell reservoir. Nano |
| all body parts. Once transplantation is perfected we | | | | robots would release new |
| would then have the | | | | cells at an appropriate rate. In addition, if limbs were |
| means to replace worn-out body parts at will. We | | | | being regularly |
| could all have a scan where a DNA | | | | replaced, the body as a whole would be quicker and |
| profile of our bodies was compiled. The information | | | | this would undoubtedly result |
| in our personal database | | | | in a lower rate of apoptosis. Oh, and easy on the |
| would be used in order to grow our replacement | | | | alcohol!In our throw-away society we may have lost |
| parts. Using micro-surgery | | | | the habit of replacing parts. The |
| techniques, new parts could be fitted every 5 years! | | | | thing about us humans is that we can't simply be |
| Can you imagine it?What About the Brain?Change as | | | | replaced by a new model. We |
| many bits as you like, but take the brain away and | | | | need to be renovated and renewed occasionally. |
| then surely the | | | | Perhaps a few of the things we |
| person no longer exists. Even if it were possible to | | | | buy could get the same treatment. When I am not |
| grow a replacement brain, | | | | thinking about immortality, I am |
| how would the information from the old one - | | | | promoting Insectocutor Fly Killers. We are always |
| including our very state of | | | | happy to sell you a new model. |
| existence and self-image - be transferred to the | | | | We also, however, carry a range of spare parts. |
| new one? Well, the brain is | | | | There are some Insectocutor |
| indeed a special case as it holds not only our | | | | models out there that are over 30 years old. We |
| thoughts and memories but also | | | | are proud to have supplied the |
| our sense of being. Because of this, swapping one | | | | odd spare part when it has been needed. |
| brain for another and | | | | Immortality indeed! |
| disposing of the old one would be tantamount to | | | | |