On June 11 (Moscow time), according to TASS, Academician Alexander Sergeev, Scientific Director of the Russian National Center for Physics and Mathematics, said that breakthroughs in molecular medicine and gene technology can help humans extend their lifespan to 120 years.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Mr. Sergeev said that every lifespan leap in history is associated with the emergence of new technologies.
In the early 20th century, the average life expectancy of humans was only about 40 years. By the 1960s, this number had increased to about 70 years thanks to disease control and the advent of antibiotics," he said.
According to the Russian academic, the next step to bring life expectancy to the 120-year mark will come from new discoveries in the fields of molecular medicine and genetics.
However, he emphasized that scientific advances alone are not enough. Humans also need to eliminate factors that impair health, especially unhealthy living habits.
In the process of pursuing success and financial stability, many people aged 20 to 40 have unintentionally damaged their foundational health," Mr. Sergeev said.
This scientist believes that educating the younger generation about health care is very important, because many risk factors leading to disease are accumulating very early.
120 years of lifespan is not a story of treating diseases that have appeared. The important thing is to have a proper lifestyle before diseases form. That is the key factor," he emphasized.
According to Mr. Sergeev, if new scientific achievements are combined with health protection awareness from a young age, humans in the future can completely live significantly longer than they do now.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 takes place from June 3-6, gathering many experts, businesses and policymakers to discuss economic, scientific and technological development trends in the future.
