Kara Swisher Explores Life Extension

The CNN Original Series “Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever” features journalist Kara Swisher as she delves into the growing field of life extension and the individuals committed to overcoming mortality. The third episode will air at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, and the premiere episode is available for streaming on the CNN app.

It’s pretty fascinating to think about bionic people who have figured out how to halt the aging process. But, perhaps more importantly—and definitely less glamorous—is addressing chronic diseases that affect longevity.

Research indicates that around 60% of young adults in the U.S. struggle with at least one chronic condition, and this figure rises to roughly 90% in older adults, according to a study from 2025.

While many individuals are searching for ways to extend their lifespan, diseases like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer remain significant contributors to death and disability, especially as people grow older.

A surge of tech investors is currently promoting various gadgets, supplements, and programs that create the illusion of living forever. However, journalist Kara Swisher is focusing on methods that genuinely contribute to long-term health in her series. The upcoming episode, set to premiere on Saturday, May 2, at 9 p.m. ET, will explore medical advancements that show promise against chronic illnesses for a wider audience.

“What I’m interested in is increasing longevity for everybody,” Swisher noted. “Healthy longevity, not just longevity for longevity’s sake. It’s longevity aimed at good living and being healthy, preventing death from diseases that could be avoided. … It’s so preventable.”

Swisher likened this to how improvements in sanitation prevented cholera in future generations. Also, treatments like medications have turned once life-threatening conditions into manageable illnesses, explained Dr. Steven Austad, who is the scientific director of the American Federation for Aging Research and a distinguished professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Antibiotics changed everything, and these developments could potentially change everything,” Austad said, referring to recent medical advancements addressing chronic diseases.

The Connection Between Aging and Disease

According to Austad, many tech entrepreneurs investing in longevity are somewhat misguided about how aging science works. They often fail to understand that there’s no straightforward solution, as the biology of the aging process is deeply complex.

Aging impacts everyone and even the healthiest individuals become more susceptible to chronic diseases, he explained. “Aging isn’t a disease, but it does increase our vulnerability to illnesses.”

Aging doesn’t just increase susceptibility; it also complicates recovery from illnesses. Additionally, it can bring forth conditions that a person might be genetically predisposed to, mentioned Dr. Nir Barzilai, president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research and a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

For instance, an individual might carry a gene that raises the likelihood of developing dementia, but symptoms may only manifest when they reach their 60s, 70s, or 80s. “You need the aging process to bring it out,” he said.

Chronic diseases affect not only the elderly but preventing them could allow people to enjoy a longer life in better health.

Modifying the Body’s Response to Illness

Some of the most encouraging technologies focused on longevity will potentially require prescriptions rather than being available for purchase.

Alzheimer’s disease could one day be preventable via CRISPR technology, a gene-editing tool co-developed by Nobel laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna, who also serves as the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.

This tool acts like a pair of scissors that target DNA, leading to cell repairs. The repair process can modify DNA, as Doudna explained to Swisher.

“It opened the door. We can now study the function of genes, and we can change genes,” she said.

“You can envision people living longer, but in a healthier way,” she added.

Gene editing via CRISPR is just one of several medical breakthroughs that could significantly influence chronic health conditions.

Researchers on the East Coast are also developing tools for preventing and treating ailments such as HIV, diabetes, and cancer. You might recognize one of these from the COVID-19 pandemic: mRNA vaccines.

How do vaccines play a role in treating chronic diseases? mRNA, or messenger RNA, delivers instructions to the body’s cells. These instructions can include developing proteins to guide the immune system in identifying threats, such as viruses or cancer cells, or even correcting genetic errors, explained Dr. Kathryn Whitehead, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

This year, mRNA vaccines targeting HIV are preparing to begin clinical trials, while cancer vaccines have been undergoing testing, according to Dr. Jilian Melamed, a research assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

In an early trial this year, seven out of eight participants who had an immune response to a pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine survived for up to six years after treatment—compared to a mere 13% survival rate normally associated with this type of cancer, according to a statement from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“Both of these approaches hold tremendous potential,” Austad commented. “However, they are still in very early stages.”

While new treatments are being tested for safety and efficacy, there are measures individuals can take now to prevent chronic illnesses. Prevention is also far more budget-friendly compared to treating diseases once they arise, Melamed noted.

“The saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” she added.

Among the most effective prevention methods available are lifestyle changes related to exercise, nutrition, rest, and social connections, Barzilai suggested.

Investing in these modifications can be challenging; the advantages often don’t manifest immediately. But taking proactive steps can lead to longer life and better health.

“In this country, the focus seems to be on sickness—‘let’s intervene when you’re unwell’—yet we should focus on prevention throughout life, addressing nutrition, sleep, exercise, and managing stress,” Swisher remarked.