Do we want longevity reserved for the powerful or longevity shared by all?
On September 3, 2025, an unexpected conversation was captured on camera during the military parade in Beijing. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, both 72 years old, were heard discussing a surprising topic: longevity. Putin raised the possibility that, thanks to organ transplants, humans could rejuvenate and perhaps even “achieve immortality.” Xi Jinping, for his part, recalled predictions that, during this century, humans could live to be 150 years old.
This exchange, seemingly anecdotal, speaks volumes about the interest that certain leaders have in life sciences and emerging technologies. Putin’s interest in longevity has been documented for years, and Xi Jinping has already let the constitution amended to extend the length of his power. Both imagine a future where biotechnology could prolong their reign as well as their existence.
Should we smile at these remarks or, on the contrary, be concerned? The answer is clear: if world leaders are interested in living longer for themselves, scientists and stakeholders have a duty to ensure that advances in longevity research benefit everyone. The European Union, which has already taken bold initiatives with the European Health Data Space (EHDS), could go one step further and launch a major public research program on longevity and support private initiatives towards longevity. The USA can also be initiating great progress through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and multiple big private companies. Companies and public authorities all over the world can contribute.
There are many scientific avenues to explore: gene therapies that reactivate or protect genes linked to cellular youth, the use of stem cells, new pharmacological approaches, and therapies related to blood circulation. These areas of research, already being explored around the world, could receive a decisive boost if we decide to invest heavily and collectively.
The stakes go beyond scientific curiosity. As Putin himself has acknowledged, by 2050 there will be more people over the age of 65 than children under the age of six. The aging population is a major challenge for our healthcare systems, our economies, and our societies. Investing in anti-aging research is not a luxury: it is a necessity to preserve the dignity, autonomy, and vitality of European citizens.
Making healthy longevity a universal right. We are not going to curb the ambition of rulers with moral posturing. We have the scientific and medical talent, access to some of the most advanced artificial intelligence technologies, the infrastructure, diversity, and the legitimacy to carry out longevity projects. Beijing’s “open mic” should not only surprise us, it should inspire us: if longevity becomes the preoccupation of the powerful, it is urgent that scientists and stakeholders everywhere make it a shared good.