# Longevity escape velocity

Longevity escape velocity is the idea of a tipping point where medicine adds more than a year to your remaining life expectancy for every year that passes, so you would effectively outrun aging. Biogerontologist Aubrey de Grey made the term popular in the early 2000s. It is still a speculative idea, not something anyone has shown to be real. Mainstream aging science treats it as an inspiring goal to aim at, not a forecast you should plan around.

## Sources

- de Grey ADNJ. (2004). Escape velocity: why the prospect of extreme human life extension matters now. PLOS Biology. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0020187

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/longevity-escape-velocity · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_
