The study published in Nature Aging reveals that the sharp rise in life expectancy seen over the past century is now slowing down. It is projected to stop once the average life expectancy reaches 87 by the year 2019.
The research, conducted by gerontologist Jay Olshansky and co-authors, analyzed data from 1990 to 2019 in eight countries with the highest life expectancies, including Australia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
This study builds upon Olshansky’s earlier work from before 1990, where he predicted the end of a “longevity revolution” due to the limitations of medicine in combating the aging process.
Why has life expectancy risen so much in the past century?
The advancements in medical care that prevented infant and maternal deaths played a significant role in the first longevity revolution. This led to a substantial increase in life expectancy for both men and women.
As we now focus on addressing age-related diseases like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, the rise in life expectancy has slowed down due to the natural process of aging.
What does the new study show?
The study indicates that maximum life expectancy is expected to plateau around 87 years, with some countries already close to reaching this milestone. The focus on “life table entropy” highlights the limits to extending lifespan beyond a certain point.
Ultimately, the key to further increasing lifespans lies in slowing down the aging process itself.
Can we slow the ageing process?
While advancements in geroscience offer hope for extending lifespan, there is a natural limit to how far life expectancy can be extended due to biological aging. Research on genes and factors contributing to longevity is ongoing.
What did the study tell us about individual countries?
The study revealed specific outcomes for different countries, with Hong Kong showing a stronger continuation of increased life expectancy. Economic prosperity and interventions like smoking bans were attributed to this improvement.
However, overall, the recent decade has seen a slower improvement in life expectancy across all countries, including the US, which showed the lowest increase.
Why is life expectancy slowing in the US particularly?
The disparities in access to healthcare in the US, where a significant portion of the population lacks proper healthcare, contribute to the slower increase in life expectancy. This divide between healthcare access for different subgroups impacts the overall average in the US.
