No Ceiling On Longevity

It used to be, centenarians were a rarity. Not for long, say researchers who estimate that most babies born in developed countries this century will likely see their 100th birthday, reports the Associated Press. Now that's something to celebrate!

German researcher James Vaupel of the Max Planck Institute in Germany and colleagues in Denmark reveal in Friday's edition of the medical journal Lancet that life expectancy has been on an upward trend, with people in the developed world generally living up to three decades longer than in the past. What's more, they say this trend is showing no sign of stopping or slowing down. The researchers gathered data from around the world related to aging and lifespan.

Researchers say improvements in health care are the main contributing factor and that the trend is so significant that it's blowing the lid off the idea that there is a "fixed ceiling" on human lifespan.

Even though illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are on the rise, so are effective treatments, researchers say, essentially canceling out any mitigating factor the diseases might otherwise have on longevity.

The only major challenge, reports the Associated Press, could be the obesity epidemic, which tends to increase the risk of several kinds of life-threatening conditions. Data in the United States from 1982 to 2000 revealed a decrease in illnesses among the elderly, however, that trend is starting to reverse, likely because of the rise in obesity.

The lesson? Trim the fat and we could all be blowing out 100 candles.

Photo courtesy of fanboyk via Flickr.