Living forever may not be possible? A new research tells why

The dream of living forever may just remain a dream, according to a new study published on 7th October in Nature Aging. The researcher talks about the maximum lifespan for humans; it may already be near its biological limit, and the dream of achieving immortality may never come true. Rather than planning your entire life out till 60 or 80, start living in the present.
Over the past century, life expectancy in many countries has increased dramatically due to advances in healthcare and technology. There is a significant reduction in infant mortality. The increase in life expectancy has shown a recent decline in numbers; medical advances have allowed many to live a longer life, and it is nearly at its peak. The study was done by a professor of public health at the University of Illinois,

S. Jay Olshansky

, who mentioned casting doubt on the lifelong dream of immortality. According to Olshansky and his colleagues, the maximum achievable lifespan for humans is between 115 and 120 years, despite future medical advancements and technology; humans may never live lifelong.

Many nations are seeing longer life expectancy while others are not. Countries like Hong Kong and South Korea have seen significant progress in life expectancy due to policies that emphasize public health, including anti-smoking measures and improved healthcare. In countries like this, life expectancy has continued to rise, with many individuals living longer into their 100s.
In contrast, many countries have experienced a recent decline in life expectancy. Countries like the United States have seen a decrease in life expectancy in recent years due to factors like the opioid epidemic, rising obesity rates, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 20th century saw a rapid increase in life expectancy because of medical and technological advancements; they are now beginning to slow. The study has shown that we have reached the limits of what can be achieved in terms of increasing human lifespan; efforts to extend life further, especially at the age of 100, may only yield small increases in life expectancy. The focus of medical advancement may need to shift.
Readers are now shifting their focus towards quality of life over quantity, while the dream of immortality is now coming to an end. The pursuit of better health in older age is still a worthy endeavor. The current focus is on combating

aging-related diseases

and improving overall health in later years. Medical advancement is shifting towards maintaining the quality of life in older age. It means the elderly may live longer, but those extra years will be characterized by better health and a higher quality of life.