According to new research, what is the primary cause of death?

New research indicates that cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and general heart failure, are the primary causes of death, not old age itself.

Do anti-aging drugs actually slow the aging process?

The research suggests that popular anti-aging drugs may only delay specific diseases rather than slowing down the fundamental aging process.

What did autopsies of centenarians reveal about their cause of death?

Autopsies of centenarians showed that nearly 70 percent died from cardiovascular causes, with others succumbing to respiratory or other specific organ failures, not 'old age.'

Home / Science / Death by Old Age a Myth? Science Points to Heart Failure

Death by Old Age a Myth? Science Points to Heart Failure

19 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Old age is not a direct cause of death, new research suggests.
Cardiovascular diseases, especially heart attacks, are the primary cause of death.
Anti-aging drugs may only delay specific diseases, not slow aging itself.

Death by Old Age a Myth? Science Points to Heart Failure

Scientists have posited that old age is not a direct cause of death, but rather a biological stage where specific diseases become fatal. Research analyzing autopsy reports indicates that the circulatory system is the primary point of failure for humans.

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart attacks, were identified as the leading cause of death, accounting for a significant percentage of cases. Even among centenarians, autopsies revealed deaths primarily due to heart or lung failure, underscoring that 'old age' is not the terminal diagnosis.

This perspective challenges the efficacy of the longevity industry, with researchers arguing that many anti-aging interventions merely delay specific diseases. They emphasize the need for studies on younger subjects to differentiate between slowing aging and treating symptoms in already-aged individuals.