Introduction –
One of the most popular growing spaces is longevity, and it has around $2 billion invested in the longevity business alone. It was in the year 2021. The entire objective or focus of the industry is to know how long individuals live for a lifespan, but also how well they live with good health, i.e., their health span. It is something that is hugely leveraged (influenced) by environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors. It is difficult for us to control the genes and the environment, but again, there are some changes that we can bring to our lifestyle that can safeguard our longevity and health on our journey to living longer. There are some differences between lifespan, longevity, and health span. Let’s look into these differences and learn about them.
Longevity Described
Also, to learn more, you can check Longevity Science here in the link referenced above. If you are living beyond the average life expectancy, which is around 80 years old, and are in good health, you can be described as having longevity. Longevity can be described as a combination of life span and health, and it has been generally improving in the last few centuries. For instance, in the USA, average life expectancy has changed or increased dramatically. A child who is born in the USA today can expect to see their 79th or 80th birthday. The maximum possible lifespan of human beings cannot be ascertained or known fully. But somewhere, it is estimated to be between 120 and 150 years old, although this figure has not yet been reached.
Long-lived Creatures
One of the longest-lived creatures of the natural world is none other than the human being. But our lifespan can seem unimportant compared to that of other species. One of the longest mammals’ livings is the bowhead whale, which exceeds 150 years. Whereas the mysterious shark known as the Greenland shark, which goes around in the depths of the cold Arctic and Atlantic oceans, is known to live for a maximum of around 500 years. Isn’t it amazing? And, one of the most astonishing things that you will come to know is that some species can live forever, like the immortal jellyfish, also known as the Turritopsis dohrnii. It can come back to its polyp stage, giving it a possibly infinite life. There are also other animals that possess mind-blowing regenerative capabilities, like the zebrafish, which can regenerate their hearts, and scientists are researching them.
Human Life Expectancy
While the life expectancy of humans has increased, the number of years in which people stay in good health has decreased. There are some people who still do not come up to old age due to many age-related illnesses or diseases. Plus, there are several people who spend their final days in poor health. This improper balance between the life expectancy and the healthy life expectancy is what the longevity science strives to study and address. The major factor in disease is aging. As people age, their bodies accumulate molecular and cellular damage, which is known as the hallmark of the aging process. It will develop the physical signs of aging like those of frailty and wrinkles and other increases in age-related diseases like neurologic problems, cancer, and cardiovascular and other diseases like diabetes, etc. So, in order to improve longevity, we should first fight the problems of aging and its detrimental effects on our health.
