Overview
- Researchers at the Skolkovo Institute led by Dmitrii Kriukov published a modelling paper in npj Aging this week that simulates a population free of other ageing processes to isolate the effect of somatic DNA mutations.
- The simulations yield a median lifespan range of roughly 146 to 194 years when all other hallmarks of ageing are removed, but the authors stress this is a mathematical thought experiment rather than experimental proof.
- The model identifies long‑lived, largely non‑replacing cells in the brain and heart as the main bottlenecks because neurons and cardiomyocytes keep accumulating mutations over a lifetime.
- Some model variants produce extreme theoretical maxima (reported in coverage near about 627 years) but the paper and authors say those outcomes are highly unlikely and depend on strong assumptions about mutation rates and organ interaction rules.
- The study’s chief value is methodological: it provides a quantitative tool to compare how different ageing mechanisms contribute to lifespan and to help prioritize where interventions might have the most impact, while noting current average lifespans remain far below the modelled range.