In this episode of the Plain English podcast, host S. Jay Olshansky discusses the significant increase in human lifespan over the last century, thanks to advancements in public health and medicine. However, he expresses skepticism about the possibility of radical life extension in the 21st century. Olshansky points out that while we've successfully tackled early deaths from infectious diseases, we now face the tougher challenge of understanding and addressing the biological processes of aging. He acknowledges that there may be breakthroughs in geroscience but stresses the importance of having realistic expectations. Instead of solely aiming for extreme lifespan extension, he advocates for a greater focus on improving healthspan—the period of life spent in good health. Currently, he is examining the genetics of exceptionally long-lived individuals as a promising way to enhance health and longevity.
