05.09.2025 11:29
The conversation about "immortality through organ transplantation" between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened the door to a new debate. Although the laughter of the two leaders suggests that it was a joke, the question "Could they be right?" has lingered in everyone's mind. Experts emphasize that repeated transplants carry serious risks and underline that the main goal should be "healthy living."
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This week, the unexpected discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who came together at the military parade in Beijing, China, has taken its place on the agenda.
"HUMANITY MAY ACHIEVE IMMORTALITY"
A translator speaking in Chinese on behalf of Putin explained to Xi that human organs could be transplanted repeatedly, allowing a person to "become increasingly younger" regardless of their age, and even "escape old age indefinitely." He also added, "It is predicted that living up to 150 years may be possible in this century."
IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE IMMORTAL THROUGH ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION?
Although the smiles and laughter of the two leaders during their conversation indicated that this dialogue was a joke, the question "Is it possible to be immortal with the help of organ transplantation?" has intrigued everyone. Within the framework of the dialogue between Putin and Jinping, what is the current state of organ transplantation?
The organ transplantation department of the health system in the UK states that organ transplants definitely save lives. According to their data, over 100,000 people have had their lives saved by organ transplants in the last 30 years. Continuous advancements in medicine and technology mean that transplanted organs can remain in humans for much longer. For example, some kidneys transplanted to patients have been functioning for over 50 years.
The lifespan of an organ depends on how healthy the donor and recipient are and how well they take care of it. For instance, if you were to receive a new kidney from a living donor, you could expect it to last 20 to 25 years. If you receive it from a deceased donor, this period drops to 15 to 20 years. The type of organ is also important.
According to research published in the Journal of Medical Economics, a liver can last about 20 years, a heart 15 years, and lungs about 10 years.
EVERY SURGERY IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK
Putin and Xi may be talking about the transplantation of multiple organs and perhaps even multiple transplants. Nevertheless, undergoing this surgery is a significant undertaking that involves important risks. Every time you go under the knife, you are taking a gamble.
Currently, individuals receiving a new organ must take powerful medications known as immunosuppressants for life. These drugs suppress the immune system, reducing the risk of the body perceiving the transplanted organ as a "foreign object" and attacking it. They can have side effects such as high blood pressure and can also increase the risk of infection. Moreover, even if you take the medications, sometimes the body still rejects the transplanted organs.
SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TO CREATE ORGANS USING PIGS
Scientists are working to create organs that the human body will not reject by using genetically modified pigs as donors. They use a gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to remove some pig genes and add certain human genes to make the organ more compatible. Experts say that breeding special pigs for this purpose is ideal because their organs are roughly the right size for humans.
Although the science in this area is still highly experimental, a heart and a kidney have been successfully transplanted using this method. The two men who agreed to undergo the procedures were pioneers in this new field of organ transplantation. Both are no longer alive, but they helped advance xenotransplantation - the transplantation of living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.
GROWING NEW ORGANS IS ALSO UNDER RESEARCH
Another avenue being researched is growing entirely new organs using our own human cells. Stem cells have the ability to turn into any type of cell or tissue found in the body. No research group has yet succeeded in creating fully functional, transplantable human organs, but scientists are getting closer. In December 2020, British researchers at UCL and the Francis Crick Institute rebuilt the human thymus, an important organ in the immune system, using human stem cells and a bioengineered scaffold. When transplanted into mice for testing, it was found to be effective.
Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London say they are growing human intestine pieces using stem cells obtained from patient tissue, which could one day lead to personalized transplants for children with intestinal failure.
However, these advancements are more about treating diseases than keeping people alive until the age of 150.
125 YEARS MAY BE THE UPPER LIMIT
Meanwhile, technology entrepreneur Bryan Johnson spends millions of dollars each year to reduce his biological age. As far as we know, he has not yet tried to receive new organs but has infused his own plasma with that of his 17-year-old son. He stopped this after increased medical investigations by organizations like the Food and Drug Administration showed no benefits. Dr. Julian Mutz from King's College London stated that approaches like plasma replacement beyond organ transplantation are being researched, but they remain experimental. Mutz said, "While it remains uncertain whether such strategies will have a significant impact on lifespan, especially maximum human lifespan, this topic remains an important area of scientific interest."
Professor Neil Mabbott, an immunopathology expert at the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, believes that living up to 125 years may be the upper limit. Mabbott stated, "The oldest living person was a French woman named Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122 years old from 1875 to 1997."
"ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION AND MEDICATION USE WILL BECOME MORE CHALLENGING AS WE AGE"
While damaged and diseased organs can be replaced with transplants, our bodies become much less resilient as we age or cannot cope with physical stress factors. Professor Mabbott said, "We begin to respond less effectively to infections, and our bodies become more fragile, prone to injury, and less capable of healing and repair. The stress, trauma, and impact of transplant surgery, along with the continuous use of immunosuppressive drugs required to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs, will be very challenging for patients of such advanced age."
"WHAT MATTERS IS A HEALTHY LIFE"
Mabbott emphasized that instead of focusing on extending lifespan, we should strive for healthy years, stating, "Living much longer, but suffering from multiple diseases that may accompany aging and going in and out of the hospital for another tissue transplant does not seem like an appealing way to spend my retirement!"
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