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A recent study involving the medication named Lithium, which was given to fruit flies, could be the answer for a prolonged lifespan in the human race.  

Researchers from the University College London (UCL) have examined the influence of the lithium as it was administered via small doses to fruit flies scientifically known as Drosophila melanogaster extended their lifespan to close to 16-18 longer as compared to flies that were given sodium chloride, according to Medical News Today. 

Dr Jorge Iván Castillo-Quan gave an explanation on how the medication obstructed glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) which set in motion the NRF-2 molecule which is universally accepted to alleviate cell damage:

"To improve our quality and length of life we must delay the onset of age-related diseases by extending the healthiest period of our lives. Identifying a drug target for ageing is a crucial step in achieving this and by targeting GSK-3, we could discover new ways of controlling the ageing process in mammals, including humans." 

The main proponent of the research, Prof. Dame Linda Partridge who is also the director of UCL's Institute of Healthy Ageing and the Max Planck Institute for Biology and Ageing expressed their pursuit of expanding their target market to mammals and possibly to human beings at the end stage. 

Dr Ivana Bjedov, Castillo-Quan's college in UCL was also quoted in Tech Times pointing out:

"We studied the responses of thousands of flies in different conditions to monitor the effects of lithium and how it extends life. Low doses also protect against the harmful effects of higher, toxic doses of lithium and other substances such as the pesticide paraquat."

The London research overall involved a registry of 160 adult flies which were given in both its early phase and late phase of its life cycle low doses of lithium chloride. Test subjects however which were given a much higher dose of the medication did not survive the experiment.