Category Archives: Longevity

“The latest, best guesses for U.S. lifespans come from a study (PDF) released this month by the Society of Actuaries: The average 65-year-old American man should die a few months short of his 86th birthday, while the average 65-year-old woman gets an additional two years, barely missing age 88.

This new data turns out to be a disappointment. Over the past several years, the health of Americans has deteriorated—particularly that of middle-aged non-Hispanic whites. Among the culprits are drug overdoses, suicide, alcohol poisoning, and liver disease, according to a Princeton University study issued in December.

Partly as a result, the life expectancy for 65-year-olds is now six months shorter than in last year’s actuarial study. Longevity for younger Americans was also affected: A 25-year-old woman last year had a 50/50 chance of reaching age 90. This year, she is projected to fall about six months short. (The average 25-year-old man is expected to live to 86 years and 11 months, down from 87 years and 8 months in last year’s estimates.) Baby boomers, Generation X, and yes, millennials, are all doing worse.”

Source: Americans Are Dying Faster. Millennials, Too – Bloomberg

Blogger Claire Wolfe posted an interesting story that may change your perspective on the worries of the day:

“As many know by now – I died on October 6 – a Thursday.

I suffered the whole flat-line CPR + defibrillation for four minutes. Only the incredibly professional Grafton VOLUNTEER Ambulance Service (and good neighbors and good luck ) saved my butt.

I was asked several questions after this experience – did I feel the shocks, what do I remember, etc.. One question was – “What was your last thought before losing consciousness?

”Well, actually, I remember the last TWO thoughts before dying –

“Oh shit, it’s Thursday.

”Followed by

“I should have a more uplifting last thought than THAT!”

Source: What happens after you die – Living Freedom

RTWT.

I’m skeptical about his age, but suppose it’s possible. Click the link below to find out what he credits for his longevity.

“An Indonesian man who claims to be the longest living human in recorded history has described how he “just wants to die”.

Mbah Gotho, from Sragen in central Java, was born on December 31, 1870, according to the date of birth on his identity card.

Now officials at the local record office say they have finally been able to confirm that remarkable date as genuine.

If independently confirmed, the findings would make Mr Gotho a staggering 145 years old – and the longest lived human in recorded history.”

Source: ‘Longest living human’ says he is ready for death at 145

From CBSNews.com:

“Mars Petcare, one of the country’s largest makers of dry pet food, ran a 2015 ad campaign for Eukanuba on TV, online and in print publications citing a 10-year scientific study that purportedly showed the product could extend dogs’ lifespan by 30 percent or more. The ads also pointed to a number of dogs, including three Labrador retrievers named “Iowa,” “Utah” and “Bunny,” that the company said were thriving well beyond the breed’s average 12-year lifespan.

“What we observed was astonishing,” the company said in its ads, according to the FTC.

FTC said that, in fact, the study showed that dogs that were fed Eukanuba lived no longer than dogs of the same breed typically do.”

Source: The arf-ful truth: That pricey dog food won’t extend Fido’s life – CBS News

That’s the claim anyway.

From MIT Technology Review:

“The latest advancement in anti-aging therapies hardly sounds like modern medicine at all. Ambrosia, a startup based in Monterey, California, is launching a clinical trial to inject the blood of young people into just about anyone aged 35 and up—if they’re willing to pay $8,000.

Young-to-old blood transfusions hit the limelight in 2014 when Harvard Stem Cell Institute researcher Amy Wagers discovered that the blood of young mice improved muscle, heart, and brain function in older mice.”

Source: The Next Health Fad? Blood Transfusions from Young People

If this pans out, I bet it can be done for much less than $8,000.

As a hospitalist, I often end up taking care of patients who are clearly near the end of their lives. Usually I don’t know them well. I don’t know what they’ve been through. I wonder what their regular doctors have been telling them, if anything, about their chances of survival. Too often, I’m the one discussing end of life issues that should have been addressed three months ago.

After reading the article linked below, I have a bit more understanding of the situation. A sample:

“Cancers vary in prognosis. Cancers vary in their response to treatment. This begs the question: In the absence of perfect information, what should the oncologist tell the patient? Should the oncologist reveal the median survival only? If so, why? What normative ethics say only the central tendencies of a distribution be disclosed? Should the oncologist give a whiff of hope that the patient could be an outlier? Should the oncologist mention the short left and not long right tail and stress the imminence of death so that the patient can die gracefully? What is the truth? Is it the median, the long tail of optimism or the short tail of pessimism? If all three are truths which truth should be mentioned first and which truth should be mentioned last?”

Source: Hope: A Huge Cost Driver in Medicine | Medpage Today

I wonder if it’s related to lower smoking rates.

U.S Smoking Rate Over Time

(graph from Centers for Disease Control)

For details and further conjecture, read the New York Times article:

“Something strange is going on in medicine. Major diseases, like colon cancer, dementia and heart disease, are waning in wealthy countries, and improved diagnosis and treatment cannot fully explain it.

Scientists marvel at this good news, a medical mystery of the best sort and one that is often overlooked as advocacy groups emphasize the toll of diseases and the need for more funds. Still, many are puzzled.”

Source: A Medical Mystery of the Best Kind: Major Diseases Are in Decline – The New York Times