The present outer limits, the very dramatic falloff in survival past age 100, appears to be largely caused by senile systemic amyloidosis, based on autopsy evid

The present outer limits, the very dramatic falloff in survival past age 100, appears to be largely caused by senile systemic amyloidosis, based on autopsy evidence from the recent past. Misfolded proteins, amyloids, clog up your cardiovascular system until it fails. This will kill those who survive everything else. Unlike other better known forms of amyloid these are proteins involved in thyroid hormone transport. The SENS Research Foundation funds some of the work on potential treatments for this condition, based on a new approach in biotechnology using what are called catalyic antibodies [1] to break down the amyloid, though it is fair to note that as in many of these things much of the research community interest where it exists at all lies in treating the rare genetic variant that young people can suffer. It's called transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis, but it is basically the same process - you can just only suffer it young if you have exactly the right rare mutation. [1]: http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M114.557231 http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M114.557231