Analysis of Historical Data Shows Periods of Increasing Human Maximum Life Span

Remaining life expectancy at 65 has increased by a year with every passing decade since at least the middle of the 20th century, an improvement that has occurred without deliberate targeting of the mechanisms of aging. To what degree is this observed trend in human life expectancy due to (a) a general slowing of aging that will carry on throughout the entire life span, and thus lengthen maximum observed life span, or (b) a more selective slowing of processes of aging that does not meaningfully impact lifespan-limiting mechanisms that operate in late life, and thus does not lengthen maximum life span? For example, we know that supercentenarians (the tiny fraction of people who live to be age 110 and older) exhibit significant degrees of transthyretin amyloidosis, and this may be the majority cause of death in that age category. Much earlier in old age, this form of amyloidosis is present but probably not a major killer in comparison to other mechanisms of aging. It is entirely plausible that positive effects on life span resulting from past improvements in medical technology and changing lifestyle choices could have limited effects on this one specific issue, and thus would have a limited effect on maximum human lifespan. Whether or not this is the case or is an open question, however. This is an interesting area scientific inquiry, and today's open access paper is a worthy and novel addition to the literature regarding historical trends in life expectancy, but t...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs