Since the beginning of mankind, adventurers and scientists have dispensed with logic and chased life, believing that not only could we delay death but would even dare say that 'practical immortality' was within our reach. They may be right. Dr Gupta explores the medical world's quest to satisfy the insatiable desire of millions of baby boomers to stave off the aging process. In a book that is not about anti-aging, but about functional aging - extending your healthy and active life - Dr Gupta blends together compelling stories of the most up-to-date scientific breakthroughs from around the world. Controversially, longevity is not about eating well, but about eating less; nutritional supplements are a waste of money and eating chocolate and drinking coffee can make you healthier. Stem cell therapy can stop degenerative diseases like diabetes, stroke and cancer and advances in gene sequencing and nanotechnology may provide a real fountain of youth...

Sanjay Gupta was a neurosurgeon at the University of Tennessee's clinic and became a partner of the Geat Lakes Brain and Spine Center in 2000.