Gilgamesh undertook a perilous journey across ancient MesopotamiaA historical region of the Middle East, mostly centred on modern-day Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Syria and Turkey. The name "Mesopotamia" in Greek means "between rivers" because of the Tigris and Euphrates that run through it. and walked the very bottom of the sea bed in pursuit of immortalityStaying alive forever. and eternalLasting forever. youth.

A Hungarian noblewoman bathed in blood to keep young.

The Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang was serious about his search for an "elixirA medicinal or magical potion.  of life", but died due to mercury poisoning.

Throughout history, people have done everything in their power to put off death, including trying to preserve their youth forever.

But only now does it seem like it may be possible. We have gone to space, created artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning. and edited our genetic codes. Rich tech gurus are spending all of their money on research to find a "cure" to being old.

Meet Bryan Johnson. The 45-year-old tech millionaire is determined to be a teenager again, going so far as to take blood from his own teenage son, do experimental treatments only tested on mice and make 33,537 images of his bowelsThe long tube that carries solid waste out of the body. .

Many have criticised Johnson and other anti-agers for what they see as a vanity projectA project which adds minimal value to the world, but makes the person who is running it happy. . Ageing is not only natural, they say, but necessary: new generations take over from their parents and carve a new path for humankind with new ideas. It is the basis of progress.

But is looking for a cure to age really such a bad idea? Age is the highest risk factor for disease. Postponing the ageing process could work as a treatment for age-related illnesses like dementiaA syndrome associated with memory loss and other declining brain functions.  and cancer.

The question remains of how far we are willing to go to sip from the fountain of youth - and how much it is worth.

Yes: Youth is not just a social construct - it is also the time that our bodies are at their healthiest and we can develop new skills more easily. So many diseases are caused by ageing.

No: We should try to optimise health at every age, but not by stigmatisingDisapproving of, or discriminating against, a person based on perceivable characteristics. It's the opposite of respecting and recognising someone or something, especially when it comes to mental health conditions. ageing. Many of the people trying to stay "eternally young" are doing so because of social pressures.

Or... It is hardly worth discussing a recipe for eternal youth as things stand, because at this rate it will only be in the hands of tech billionaires. We should take advantage of any valid medical advancements, but they must be in the hands of everyone.