The expected lifespan has dramatically increased over the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to improvements in nutrition, advances in medicine, and a general enhancement in quality of life. However, in recent decades, this growth rate has significantly slowed, despite ongoing medical innovations and research. New studies suggest that the human organism may reach a biological limit to lifespan, and further efforts to extend life expectancy are focusing on improving health during aging, known as "health span."

According to a study published in 2024 in the journal Nature Aging, the increase in expected lifespan from 1990 to the present in the longest-lived populations worldwide averages only six and a half years, which is far less than many scientists predicted. Despite constant medical innovations, the conclusion has been reached that the greatest successes in increasing longevity have been achieved through combating diseases, while aging is proving to be the main insurmountable challenge. The lead researcher, Professor S. Jay Olshansky from the University of Illinois in Chicago, emphasizes that people today, especially older individuals, are actually living longer due to medical treatments. However, these treatments are now yielding diminishing results in extending life expectancy, even though medical science is at the peak of its possibilities.

One of the key problems facing science is the fact that extending life does not necessarily mean extending healthy years. Olshansky and other experts are increasingly advocating for an approach focused on extending the "health span," or the years during which a person remains healthy and functional, rather than just living longer. Research has shown that extending life without quality can have negative consequences, as additional years often come with chronic diseases and reduced ability for independent living.

Globally, countries with the longest-lived populations, such as Japan and Monaco, are experiencing a slower increase in expected lifespan than in the past. Additionally, the study revealed that the United States has even recorded a decline in expected lifespan in recent years, which results from numerous factors, including socioeconomic inequalities, an inadequate healthcare system, and a rise in chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Experts believe that societies must now turn to researching the aging process to enable the extension of healthy years of life. This area of research, known as geroscience, represents a great hope for the future, as it could allow for a significant reduction in the effects of aging and improvement in the quality of life for older individuals. Instead of focusing solely on extending lifespan, researchers suggest that public health policy should be directed at reducing the risks of chronic diseases, decreasing inequalities in healthcare, and promoting healthier lifestyles.

Olshansky warns against fostering overly optimistic expectations about drastic increases in longevity. While more people will reach their hundredth year, it will still be a relatively rare occurrence that will not significantly affect the average lifespan of the global population. Moreover, industries like insurance and retirement planning, which increasingly predict that most people will live beyond 100 years, must be cautious with such assumptions as they do not reflect reality.

In conclusion, Olshansky points out that while the biological limit of expected lifespan may have already been reached, there remains a "glass ceiling" that can be broken through further aging research and improvements in health. Therefore, although drastic increases in expected lifespan may not materialize, the future still offers the opportunity for significant improvements in the quality of life for older generations through a better understanding of the aging process and the application of that knowledge in everyday healthcare.

Research in this field continues to provide new insights into the complex relationships between aging, longevity, and health, and further efforts should be directed towards creating conditions for a quality and long-lasting life for all. Issues such as reducing health inequalities, combating chronic diseases, and promoting healthy living habits must be at the forefront of scientific research and public policy to ensure that added years of life are filled with health and vitality.

Source: University of Illinois System