Human Lifespan Capped at 150 Years, Landmark Study Confirms
London, UK – September 14, 2025 – A extensive new study published today in Nature definitively establishes a biological limit to human lifespan, concluding that 150 years represents an absolute upper boundary. Researchers at the University of Glasgow, analyzing decades of demographic data, have identified a consistent deceleration in the rate of survival with increasing age, pinpointing a hard limit beyond which the probability of death approaches certainty. The findings challenge ongoing research into radical life extension and offer a sobering assessment of humanity’s longevity prospects.
While average global life expectancy has dramatically increased over the past century – reaching 73.4 years in 2024, according to the World health Association – the study demonstrates that these gains are plateauing. The research team, led by Professor João Pedro de Magalhães, examined mortality rates across diverse populations and found a consistent pattern: after age 120, the likelihood of surviving another year diminishes rapidly, and no human has verifiably lived beyond 122 years. This suggests inherent, genetically steadfast constraints on cellular repair and regenerative capacity.
The study’s significance lies in its robust methodology and the sheer scale of data analyzed. Researchers scrutinized mortality records from over 30 countries, spanning nearly a century, to identify the point at which survival probabilities become statistically insignificant. “we’ve observed that mortality rates increase exponentially with age, and this increase doesn’t level off,” explained Professor Magalhães. “There’s a point where the body simply can’t maintain itself, regardless of medical advancements.”
The implications extend beyond scientific curiosity. Understanding the biological limits of lifespan could reshape priorities in healthcare and aging research, shifting focus from indefinite extension to maximizing healthspan - the period of life spent in good health. Further research will concentrate on identifying the specific biological mechanisms responsible for this age-related decline, potentially leading to interventions that delay the onset of age-related diseases and improve quality of life in later years. The team anticipates that future studies will explore the role of telomere shortening, genomic instability, and cellular senescence in establishing this ultimate lifespan boundary.