Mulligan
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- May 3, 2009
- Messages
- 9,343
wishin&hopin said:The media have always been fond of this type of story. The theme is always the same, but the key to greater longevity changes. Some years back, it was megavitamins. More recently, it's been calorie restriction. I think it's just wishful thinking, fueled by our primal fear of death and endless faith in the power of science. The book "Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age," which I've mentioned here before, does a good job of debunking this type of theorizing.
Its been a year or two, but I remember reading an article from an aging expert that even though the average life expectancy is increasing, the absolute ceiling of life expectancy of about 120 hasn't changed and probably wont for a long time. It would be very scary (knowing the condition of most 100 yr. olds) and not enjoyable I imagine either for me to sniff the century mark. Im sure the actuary person in my pension plan would agree with me, also.