Genetics + neurology versus aging:

Did you quote that (with minor augmentation) from the WSJ Elon Musk interview?

I don't think anything is purposefully programmed in, it's just the nature of universal forces to erode away at something until it falls apart (which is essentially what happens in late life degenerative disorders).

But Musk here was also supposedly advocating aging in one capacity for the same theoretical reason - thought process evolution (aka cognition evolution);

As societies are a function or extrapolation of their thought process (aka culture), "people don't normally change how they think" so they stagnate unless death occurs and future generations evolve (usually to some small extent) how they think.

May I ask what your background is? And specific area of interest within that background?

I appreciate the point of view as it outlines essentially our contemporary state exhibiting the consistent level of helpless defeatism in the face of it.

Referring to will power specifically, it's synonymous with "impulse control" which is specifically mediated through our nervous systems.

As you correctly point out, most people in one way or other eventually fall victim to it.

i.e. science has no appreciable/worthwhile nervous system intervention established (or even particularly well conceived of) to mediate nervous system predisposition - i.e. to mediate genetic predisposition.

i.e. epigenetic interference/modification or in general modification/tweaking/optimization of gene expression, there's really no validated means of doing this; we simply manage emergent conditions with chemicals that implicate downstream effectors and if things go really really bad, operate/cut/slice-out.

Aging.....

It's also interesting in this interview that Musk claims:

"It's important people die as they don't change their mind, don't change how they think, therefore if they didn't die society would stagnate/ossify and not evolve".

And the interviewer comes back with,

"I thought you'd say psychedelics".

.........

Where psychedelics are currently advocated for specifically due to their perspective shifting nature, alter states of consciousness, specifically assist with modification of thought process and therefore cognitive state.

.........

Musk thereafter reaffirms his belief that for positions of leadership, said leaders must exhibit good "presence of mind and cognitive ability" (synonyms of one another) to make the most informed decisions on behalf of the societies being governed.

i.e. he's advocating for cognitive evolution, and so is the interviewer - but just from two different points of view.

......

And that discussion was initiated via the attempt to address an aging related intervention.

Therefore - cognitive evolution = age inhibitor (keeps the nervous system fast, prevents its slowing), due to the cognitive effect on nervous system function (thus, "neuro-cognition").

Not so much, but he does have essentially a global cult following so using someone in that position to shed light on the topic and reaffirm my own contention via contrast is useful.

Not to mention everyone else loves him so if I link a video they're probably going to click on it vs ignore it.

I agree he's not a pure scientist but never claimed be either; rather an engineer focused on manufacture optimization (application optimization of science already in place).

......

Which is why there's statements he makes definitely to be taken with a pinch of salt (as I see it).

Like the above (similar to yourself), "getting old and dying is an important part of societies life cycle", it's like endorsing degenerative nervous system disorders, asinine in many ways.

Instead the answer should, "how and what do we do to establish an effective intervention addressing stagnation of thought process and evolution, enhancing quality of life long term".