Slowing growth in life expectancy means few people will live to 100
New ScientistOCT 2024
Study: Life Expectancy Gains Slowing
Image copyright: CFOTO/Contributor/Future Publishing via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite concerns about slowing growth in life expectancy, many countries are still on track for significant gains by 2030. Even though some nations may lag behind, the overall trend is positive. Researchers emphasize that we're likely far from hitting any upper limit on human longevity, suggesting that with continued improvements in healthcare, nutrition, and lifestyle, people around the world can look forward to longer, healthier lives in the coming decades.
Narrative B
Aside from the great strides taken in extending human life and recent fears that those gains may be slowing, what ought to worry us more is that the gap between lifespan and healthspan is widening. Many people now spend their later years battling chronic conditions. It may be more valuable to live fewer years in good health than to eke out a longer existence plagued by disease. This shift in perspective challenges us to prioritize not just longevity but the quality of our extended lives.