In a new two-part documentary, presenter Kathryn Thomas explores the boom in anti-ageing science and longevity research.

‘Young Forever: The Death of Ageing?’ explores the many routes – some in the extreme – that people are taking in the pursuit of extended youth and longer life.

Kathryn told Behind the Story that people known as ‘biohackers’ are using all their resources to try and stay young.

“A biohacker is somebody who spends their entire life trying to reduce their chronological age,” she explained.

“They are taking matters into their own hands – using supplements, data and social media – to actually reduce their chronological age and increase their health span.”

‘The worried well’

Kathryn said the biohacking world is about taking a preventative approach.

“We wait until we get sick before we do anything about it,” she said.

“Whereas the biohacking world (believe) we need to get behind preventative medicine – we don’t need to be presenting [for medical attention] when we’re sick, we need to try and reduce the fact that we will present at all.”

Kathryn says much of the anti-ageing/longevity industry is aimed at those with financial resources.

“The world-wide wellness industry is worth $33tn – it’s big money,” she said.

“You’re really feeding into the worried well.

“This is a very, very lucrative industry where people that can afford to buy into it are buying into it.”

‘A normal part of society’

She believes attitudes are also changing as to how people view cosmetic procedures.

“I think since COVID, everybody sitting and looking at themselves in a laptop screen for wo years, the demand for cosmetic treatments, facial treatments, went through the roof globally,” she said.

“I think (it’s) because it’s just become a normal part of society now, whether we like to admit it or not.”

1926 Census

Fran and Evelyn also discuss the publishing of the 1926 Census online, which will give people an insight into the lives of people living in Ireland 100 years ago.

The initiative includes 48 ‘Centenarian Ambassadors’, who were alive at the time the census was taken.

The ambassadors were born between 1920 and 1926 and live all over Ireland – as well as those representing the Irish diaspora abroad.

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