THE NEW AGE OF AGING

 I’ve been thinking about longevity more in the last few months than ever before. It’s worrying me.

According to the CDC, the average life span in the United States today is 77.5 years. Yet more and more people are living to 100 years and more. And what are we to do with the prediction that living to an active 125 years will soon be attainable? Good news if longevity is your goal.

Frankly, it’s not mine. I’m not ready to live 125 years or more. I am already 24 years passed my expected expiration date and often feel, well, tired. I’ve put two careers behind me and now it appears as if I’ll need a third. (Of course, once you reach a certain age you can’t plan too far in advance. A five year business plan might be out of the question.) Still.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that, by 2050, the population aged 60 years or more will double, while those aged 80 years or more will number 400 million. This extension of the lifespan is looked upon mostly as a triumph of medical advances, stemming from access to better medical treatments as well as a focus on lifestyle and preventive therapies. 

So, I’m asking…is 80 fast becoming the new 70 in human years?

You’ll notice I have more questions than answers.

Longevity has been attributed to 1) DNA, 2) a positive attitude, 3) a Blue Zone lifestyle (which means physical labor, a plant based diet, red wine - and socialization.)

A study of super-agers showed they also may experience a metabolic slowdown, a slowdown of the aging process…which includes what’s happening in the brain. (Apparently just before he passed, Henry Kissinger at 100 years of age was still serving as a consultant to the government on foreign affairs.) But one size does not fit all. One book on how to live longer does not apply to everyone.

Are we interested in longevity because we fear the alternative?

We do know that heart disease and cancer are the two most common causes of death at any age. And both are subjects to ongoing research with increasing positive survival rates. Some scientists speculate specific targeting will eradicate cancer altogether in the near future. It’s already being done with varying degrees of success for different types of the disease. And of course early detection whether by chance or testing is the very best option. (I speak from experience.)

Genome editing, the art of changing the DNA of a cell or organism, holds great promise for eradicating cancer and a variety of other diseases. Like AI, however - which is proving helpful in medical issues - genome editing carries a multitude of ethical concerns.

The medical community has made great advancements in the skeletal department. We are fortunate to have an array of replacement parts…hip, knee, arms, elbows, etc. (And there are parts you can live quite nicely without, like the appendix.)

So many medical advancements have been made in the last 50 years; imagine what the next 50 will bring! A cure for the common cold?

And then if you’re feeling young and great, the next step is clear. Your appearance: a look reflecting how you’re feeling.

Cosmetic surgery can almost completely transform the human body, removing years of wear and tear. A boom for the anti-aging population - which are mostly women. To be clear, I’m not anti-aging but baffled to why 30 year old women are subjecting to Botox injections on a regular basis. I don’t understand the fillers, big lips, fish lips especially which rather resemble grouper lips. (Grouper is a popular Florida fish, a fish that sports unnaturally big lips. Ugly lips in my opinion.) But perhaps I’ll change my mind someday. And perhaps with whatever appearance procedures chosen, the cosmetic surgery prone individuals will look more like a 95 year old when they’re actually 125.

Is that a good thing?

When I did a small informal poll asking if folks would like to live to one 125 most said yes as long as they enjoyed a good quality of life. Quality of life is soo subjective. And chancy!

The eldest in many cultures are revered for their wisdom which is a good thing. But what if in this new age of aging, the information you possessed at 100 years became irrelevant by the time you were one 125? What then? A sense of humor will be more important than ever!

One of my friends once told me, “I’m not afraid to die. I just don’t want to miss anything.”

And there’s that.