Author and investor Jim Mellon claims retirement ages of 80 and older are going to be commonplace in the future.

The island based businessman says the trend will result in a whole new approach to life with many more people living to 100 and above.

Mr Mellon, who is in the Sunday Times Rich List, is preparing for the release of his latest book next month. (September)

Juvenescence - Investing in the Age of Longevity - is set to come out on September 25.

Writing a column in the online business magazine Master Investor Mr Mellon says: ’These are exciting times in the field of longevity, and believe me, staying healthy today will allow you to cross a bridge to ultra-long life in the not too distant future.

’Retirement ages of 80 plus are going to be commonplace, as are centenarians

’Of course, if we all live as long as I think we can, then we will need good investments to sustain ourselves.

’The gradualist approach to raising the pensionable age (to 68 in 2030 in the UK) is ridiculous.

’Governments need to wake up and recognise that people are going to live much, much longer, and that older workers will not only be hired (especially as the pool of younger workers shrinks) but will be required.

Retirement ages of 80 plus are going to be commonplace, as are centenarians.

’It is important for people to recognise that this trend to Juvenescence will result in a whole new approach to life.

’No longer will we will live the three-stage life as described in Andrew Scott and Lynda Grafton’s brilliant book, the 100 Year Life, but we will go on a very different course.

’Born learn, earn, retire and expire will be replaced by a life that encompasses multiple careers, continuous education, and very different types of work.’

In the article Mr Mellon reveals there three members of the Mellon family ’currently trying to get books out ahead of each other: my father is finishing one on African Bangles; my brother in law is close to completing a magnum opus on the future of media; and I am pleased to say that, albeit delayed, Juvenescence is coming out on September 25 and is currently being formatted.

’Christmas presents in our family this year are a no-brainer, and will be circular.’

Mr Mellon adds that on the subject of Juvenescence, he is planning a trip to San Francisco to spend a day at the Buck Institute of Aging to ’understand more of the amazing science that is coming out of this institution.’

He says that one of the key senolytic drugs in development, is being trialled by Unity Lifesciences, first emerged at the Buck. ’In a nutshell, senolytics are among the first of several compounds that will add significantly to human lifespan in the next 10 or 20 years. While more fully described in the new book, these are drugs that clear so-called senescent cells from tissues. Senescent cells become more prevalent as we age, and are cells that are neither dead nor healthy, but which exist in a limbo like state.

’They contribute significantly to inflammatory disease and their removal, at least in part, is demonstrably life extending in animal models.’

Mr Mellon goes on in the column to send a message to investors. ’The good news for followers of Master Investor (and you guys now make us one of the UK’s most widely read financial publications) is that the era of negative yielding bonds appears to be over, and those who took our advice to sell or short such bonds will have done very well.

’Bond yields in major economies have been moving up, albeit slowly, but I am sure there will be a bond crash in the not-too-distant future.’

Mr Mellon also mentions ’the business of medical marijuana.’

He says: ’It’s going to be a huge business.’

And he adds: ’Legalisation of soft drugs has to be the future, and there is no doubt that marijuana will rank as a major business once legitimised.’