The concept of head transplantation, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, is experiencing renewed interest from life-extension advocates and Silicon Valley startups, despite facing significant skepticism and ethical concerns. Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero, who gained notoriety in 2017 for announcing a successful head transplant between two corpses in China, believes the procedure offers a potential solution to aging, though his claims have been widely disputed.

Canavero's proposed technique involves severing the spinal cords of both the recipient and the donor body, connecting the recipient's head to the donor body, and then fusing the spinal cords using a chemical called polyethylene glycol. This would be followed by a period of induced coma to facilitate healing and prevent movement. He argues that advancements in microsurgery and nerve regeneration techniques make the procedure theoretically possible.

"It's become absolutely clear over the past years that the idea of some incredible tech to rejuvenate elderly [people] is not on the horizon," Canavero stated, explaining his motivation for pursuing the controversial procedure. He believes head transplantation offers a more immediate solution compared to other anti-aging approaches.

However, the medical community remains largely unconvinced. Critics raise concerns about the feasibility of spinal cord fusion, the potential for immune rejection, and the profound psychological impact on the recipient. Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University, has called the procedure "utterly nuts" and questioned the ethical implications of creating a new identity.

Canavero's career has been significantly impacted by his controversial ideas. After publishing his surgical concepts a decade ago, he says he was dismissed from the Molinette Hospital in Turin, where he had worked for 22 years. "I'm an out-of-the-establishment guy. So that has made things harder, I have to say," he acknowledged.

Despite the challenges, Canavero remains determined to advance the field of head transplantation. He claims that undisclosed startups are now exploring the concept, suggesting that the pursuit of this radical procedure may continue behind closed doors. The long-term implications of such research, both ethical and scientific, remain a subject of intense debate.