What's happened
Recent studies reveal that global life expectancy improvements have significantly slowed, with only a 6.5-year increase since 1990. Experts suggest a shift in focus from extending lifespan to enhancing the quality of life for older adults, indicating a potential biological limit to human longevity.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Vishwam Sankaran from The Independent, the study published in Nature Aging indicates that life expectancy improvements are slowing, with researchers suggesting that the focus should now be on enhancing healthspan rather than lifespan. Jay Olshansky, a lead author of the study, emphasizes that 'most people alive today at older ages are living on time that was manufactured by medicine.' This sentiment is echoed by Ian Sample in The Guardian, who notes that radical new medicines are needed to significantly extend life expectancy beyond current limits. Meanwhile, Axios highlights that while life expectancy in the U.S. is trending upward, it still lags behind other developed nations, indicating systemic health issues that need addressing.
How we got here
Over the past century, life expectancy has nearly doubled due to advancements in healthcare and living conditions. However, recent research indicates that this trend has stagnated, particularly in high-income countries, raising concerns about future health outcomes.
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