Study suggests 156-year ceiling if somatic mutations are neutralized

A July 2026 npj Aging paper from Russia suggests humans could live as long as 156 years if the effects of somatic mutations were removed, though other aging processes and non-regenerating brain and heart tissues still limit healthy years; meanwhile, lifestyle factors like not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, vaccines, and cancer screenings can add about a decade to life expectancy, with the current oldest person at 116 illustrating present limits.