The Moscow Times reports that Russia’s Ministry of Health has pressed research institutes to provide immediate updates on their efforts to combat aging, cognitive decline, and osteoporosis, as well as to strengthen the immune system.

"We were asked to urgently send all of our developments, and the letter arrived, let’s say, today, but everything had to be sent yesterday," one researcher told Meduza.

The urgency is reportedly driven by Mikhail Kovalchuk, a 77-year-old scientist and close friend of Putin. Kovalchuk, who heads the Kurchatov Nuclear Research Institute and has ties to a state-funded genetics program that includes Putin’s eldest daughter, endocrinologist Maria Vorontsova, is said to be leading the push for life-extension research.

"The big boss set the task, and officials rushed to implement it in every possible way," according to a Kremlin insider.

Kovalchuk is described as being "obsessed with eternal life."

He reportedly pitched the idea to Putin.

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[–] niktemadur@lemmy.world 45 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh man... don't you just want him to try some experimental shit that backfires immediately and horribly. And for this to happen very, very soon.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 20 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Stalin may have lived longer. He had a heart attack that may have been able to be survived, but no doctor in the room would treat him. It's debated if it was due to fear of punishment if they failed, or due to everybody wanting that asshole to die.

Either way, he may have lived 20 more years if doctors did something besides nothing.

That being said, maybe todays russian doctors will be equally helpful. That is to say, they do nothing if something goes wrong.

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Wasnt it a stroke and no one disturbed him for ages in his office effectively enabling his desth through inaction

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago

Some could have opened the door them quietly walked away. The world may never know.

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

I propose that the ruzzians come up with volunteer doctors for putin. And sure, let's try anything and everything these guys come up with...on putin! You know, to extend his life! I heard lemons are good for life injection!