Our life expectancy has never been higher. In the eighteenth century, the average age did not exceed 25 years. And in the nineteenth, it peaked at 43 years. Finally in the twentieth century, thanks to advances in medicine and living conditions, it jumped phenomenally.

Today, in Belgium, this hope is 75 years for men and 80 for women. Meanwhile, the number of centenarians is also growing very quickly. A trend that is accelerating ...

Man has always dreamed about living for as long as possible and, if he must grow old, that he might do so as late and as painlessly as possible. "Not decrepit nor senile!" seems to be the challenge for generations like ours whose life expectancy just keeps on getting longer. So what exactly are the current discoveries and theories that might one day allow us to alter the complex process of ageing, to slow down its effects and perhaps even to help us live longer?