Xi and Putin banter about organ transplants for living till 150! Are they onto something? Indeed, yes!

Is it possible to become immortal with the help of organ transplants? That was the unexpected topic of discussion on September 4 between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin when they met at a military parade in Beijing.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

A translator, speaking in Mandarin on Putin's behalf, told Xi how human organs can be repeatedly transplanted "so that one can get younger and younger" in spite of age, and might even be able to stave off old age "indefinitely."

Xi and Putin...

"It's predicted that in this century it might become possible to live to 150," he added.

Their smiles and laughter suggest it was a bit of banter, but might they be on to something?

Organ transplants certainly save lives. Quoting NHS Blood and Transplant in the UK, BBC reported that over 1,00,000 people have been saved in the last 30 years.

And continued advancements in medicine and technology mean transplanted organs are lasting far longer once in people.

Some patients have had a kidney transplant that has kept working for more than 50 years.

The lifespan of an organ depends on how healthy the donor and recipient are--- plus how well they look after it.

For example, if you were to have a new kidney from a living donor, you might expect it to last 20 to 25 years.