New Research Suggests Humans Could Live Well Beyond 122 Years.

WHO:

Yahoo - The world's oldest living person is Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, who is 116 years old according to Guinness World Records.

Yahoo - Researchers involved in the study include Evgeniy Efimov, Vlad Fedotov, and Leonid Malaev from Russia.

Yahoo - Jordan Weiss is an assistant professor and aging researcher at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine.

Yahoo - Egle Pavyde is a pharmacist and regenerative medicine researcher.

Yahoo - Luigi Ferrucci is the scientific director of the NIH's National Institute on Aging.

WHAT:

Yahoo - New research suggests that humans may have the potential to live as long as 156 years, according to a July 2026 paper published in npj Aging.

Yahoo - The study indicates that the human lifespan has a natural upper limit of about 122 years, based on a 2021 study published in the journal Oncoscience.

Yahoo - The researchers created a model that removed the effects of somatic mutations, suggesting a potential lifespan of 156 years without these mutations.

Yahoo - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that certain lifestyle habits can increase life expectancy by 10 years.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The research was conducted in Russia.

Yahoo - The aging research is associated with New York University's Grossman School of Medicine.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The paper proposing the potential lifespan of 156 years was published in July 2026.

Yahoo - The 2021 study that suggested a lifespan limit of 122 years was published in the journal Oncoscience.

WHY:

Yahoo - The study suggests that somatic mutations, which accumulate in the body's cells due to environmental factors and DNA replication errors, may limit human lifespan.

Yahoo - Jordan Weiss noted that conditions like dementia and heart failure affect organs that cannot regenerate, contributing to the gap between lifespan and healthspan.

HOW:

Yahoo - The researchers analyzed human DNA and the body's aging process to understand the mechanisms involved in aging.

Yahoo - The study emphasizes the need for further exploration of treatments aimed at preventing or repairing damage caused by somatic mutations.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 01:30 UTC)

Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom has been recognized as the world's oldest living person at 116 years old, according to Guinness World Records. New research published in July 2026 suggests that humans might have the potential to live up to 156 years by removing the effects of somatic mutations, which are linked to aging and health issues like dementia and heart failure. This study, conducted by researchers from Russia and associated with New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, highlights the importance of exploring treatments that could prevent or repair damage caused by these mutations.