Nightclubs Full of Old People

Collagen, Virtual Reality and Really Weird Stuff

I watched a documentary a long time ago about ageing. In one scene they injected a younger person's collagen into an older person's cell. The cell then — to convey it in a non-technical way — tightened up. Many makeup products cite collagen as an appealing ingredient. But, if the collagen doesn't make it into the cell itself, it has no deeper effect. They theorised that if someone made a pill that got collagen into people's cells, wrinkled skin would be a thing of the past. I have no idea whether that's all nonsense or legit. But, it started a train of thought that took me to some unexpected places.

A chat I had with my grandparents about their self-image struck me. I asked them how they pictured themselves in their mind. Both of them said that they thought of themselves as still in their 30s, or 20s even at times. They also said that they were often shocked when looking in the mirror. The person looking back at them felt like a stranger. Although I didn't ask this, I wondered whether they'd opt to appear that way (20 or 30 years old) if they could. As we all know, there is a place where someone can manage their image this way — online.

Ageing societies are a challenge we’re not dealing well with. A large part of the reason is that old people, for want of a better phrase, are left out. Regular contact with humans — annoying as they can be — keeps us alive, fresh and sharp. Our brains need that engagement. Old people lack that so much. This might change in time though. Isolation in old age might not be something we experience in the same way. We'll all be on board with VR by the time it's mainstream.

Of course, it might be the case that people of a certain age won’t have any interest in such things. But, it’s important to remember that we are the older generations of the future. We’ve already accepted the online world wholesale. It's not a leap to think we'll accept a VR existence when our physical bodies are less potent. Entering the metaverse, or whatever it will be, will feel like walking outside your front door. This needn't be a dystopia. For some, it will be liberation. A person with a disability or dysphoria could project themselves as they wish. An avatar can be an embodiment of your inner self — your true self. Perhaps even more mind-bendingly, elderly people can benefit from this.

Imagine sitting with your grandparents and them looking your age. Imagine a nightclub where you can't tell who's 21 or 81 years old. In this hypothetical, people would look young. They wouldn't feel young. They might still have aches and pains. Their back might still go out more than they do. But, they'd look like they did in their youth (though I'm not exactly sure what age). This will all be possible, normal even, in a future virtual world.

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