[0.00-4.56] First, let's talk about the longest-verified human lifespan on record.
[4.56-11.44] That's Jean-Calmoun of France, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.
[11.44-18.88] The number 122 in lifespan's logo recognizes her great achievement and this extraordinary milestone.
[18.88-25.52] This human lifespan record alone is powerful, but what about physical performance in older age?
[25.52-32.40] At age 22 in 2009, Usain Bolt set the 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds.
[33.20-40.64] But in 2024, 80-year-old Kenton Brown ran 100 meters in only 14.21 seconds,
[40.64-45.44] setting a world record for his age group. The times, of course, differ meaningfully,
[45.44-53.52] but Kenton's achievement is nonetheless incredible. Usain Bolt 9.58 Kenton Brown 14.21
[53.52-60.88] At age 80, physical vitality is not limited to speed or endurance, it extends to fertility as well.
[61.84-69.76] So in 1997, it was amazing to learn that Dawnbrook naturally conceived a healthy son at age 59,
[69.76-74.00] making her the oldest verified mother to conceive without fertility treatment.
[74.88-79.20] Female fertility typically declines significantly after the mid-30s,
[79.20-82.48] and natural conception beyond age 50 is extremely rare.
[83.28-88.00] Yet Dawn demonstrates that fertility can persist far beyond typical norms.
[88.64-94.16] Dawn set the record, and through technology, my lab and others are striving to preserve fertility
[94.16-99.04] for as long as possible for as many women as possible. These feats are extremely rare,
[99.04-104.88] but nonetheless possible and achieved. Imagine you or your loved one being 80-years-old
[104.88-110.16] and knowing that more than 40 healthy high-performance years are still lying ahead.
[110.96-115.92] I believe we can make these outcomes more common, and hopefully one day possible for all of us.
[115.92-120.00] But to make that leap, from rare outliers to widespread reality,
[120.80-125.28] we must understand what determines the true limits of human biological potential.
[126.00-131.76] Why do some people preserve function so far beyond the norm, while most experienced steady decline?