Recent research suggests that humanity may have reached its natural limit on lifespan, at least for the foreseeable future. Over the past century, medical advancements have dramatically increased life expectancy, adding about three years per decade in developed countries.
By the turn of the 21st century, people born then could live around 30 years longer than those born in 1900. However, new studies show that this rapid increase in longevity may have plateaued, and humanity could now face a maximum lifespan of around 87-90 years for women and 84 years for men.
This conclusion comes from a study published in Nature Aging, which analyzed demographic data from countries with the longest-living populations, such as Japan, France, and the U.S., spanning from 1990 to 2019.
The researchers found that although life expectancy grew for much of the 20th century, improvements have slowed or even reversed in some countries, like the U.S. Their findings suggest that without significant breakthroughs in medical science, human lifespans may not surpass these current limits, and the chances of reaching 100 years could remain below 15% for women and 5% for men in the near future.
In the U.S., the average life expectancy currently stands at 77.5 years, with men living an average of 74.8 years and women 80.2 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These numbers reflect averages across populations, but individual lifespans can vary depending on factors like lifestyle, health, and environment. While it’s difficult to predict how long someone will live, these figures provide a broad picture of the current human lifespan.
Though significant extensions of human life may seem unlikely in the near future, experts emphasize that people can still take steps to enhance their health and longevity. Dr. Scott Kaiser, a board-certified geriatrician, advocates for adopting healthy habits now to improve life in the years to come.
He highlights the importance of maintaining strong social ties, noting that positive relationships are strongly linked to longer, healthier lives. In addition, Kaiser encourages regular physical activity, a balanced diet rich in nutrients, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices to improve overall well-being and longevity.
Ultimately, while science may have hit a limit on extending the human lifespan for now, personal choices still have a significant impact. Dr. Kaiser compares healthy aging to maintaining a car—if you treat your body well and provide it with the right inputs, you increase the chances of achieving long-term health and possibly extending your life.
In the absence of revolutionary medical breakthroughs, these habits may be the best way for individuals to maximize their health and enjoy a longer, more fulfilling life.
