TITHONOPHOBIA

I've brought you an old story and coined a new term: Tithonophobia.

-In Greek mythology, Tithonus was granted immortality by Zeus at the request of Eos, the goddess of dawn. However, Eos forgot to ask for eternal youth. As a result, Tithonus aged endlessly without the release of death, highlighting the ancient cautionary tale about the desire for immortality without considering the consequences. This story emphasizes the importance of not just prolonging life, but ensuring quality and vitality in our extended years.-

This fear dates back to 3000 BC and is still present in all discussions and writings. I believe it also creates a barrier to entry into this field. Many people, when they hear about extending life, immediately think of their grandparents who suffered from numerous diseases in their old age.

But wait a minute? Is there even one person among the 8 billion people who would want such a desire? I know the answer. There isn't.

I challenge these thoughts and fears. Moreover, I think the concept is misunderstood. Our view of aging is still chronological. Furthermore, we perceive the whole body as a single piece.

It must be understood that heart attacks and heart failure occur because your arteries age. You develop vascular dementia. Your brain cells age and fail to clear proteins, leading to Alzheimer’s. If your pancreatic beta cells were as healthy as they used to be, you probably wouldn’t have type 2 diabetes. Consequently, you wouldn’t have kidney disease or neuropathy. If your cells could continue to repair their DNA, who knows, you might not even get cancer. Or if you did, your immune system would clear it without you ever knowing. But they age too.

My point, I believe, is clear. Fighting aging means fighting all the diseases it brings. They are inseparable.

In my country, when someone sneezes, we say "live long." But some people immediately feel the need to correct it to "no, live healthy." I want to respond from here. These concepts are not separate. If you want to make someone live long, your enemy is these diseases.

Furthermore, the great enemy behind these diseases.

Additionally, Tithonus was frail. In the imagined version, he suffered from sarcopenia. Sarcopenia also kills people. Thus, Tithonus in this state could not live long.

I wish you a long life, with all its necessities.