Human longevity may increase over time, study finds

WASHINGTON, DC – After the age of 105, the risk of death for humans slows down, and even decreases in some cases, according to a new study.

The research, published Friday in the journal Science, suggests that any fixed maximum life span has not yet been reached – and that human longevity actually increases.

"The growing number of exceptionally long individuals and the fact that their mortality exceeds 105 declines across cohorts – lowering the mortality or age-defying plateau where it appears – strongly suggest that longevity continues to increase. increase over time and that a limit, if any, has not been reached, "write the researchers.

Forging credible theories about the limits of human life requires solid data on mortality at extreme ages, according to the study.But given the small number of centenarians, good data have escaped the researchers, said Joop de Beer, researcher on population aging and longevity at the 39: Dutch Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute in The Hague, which did not participate in the study

The question of whether the limits of human mortality are expanding has remained controversial. 9659004] "There is a great discussion about the human life span. Some experts say that the probability of dying increases with age, even old age, "said de Beer." And other researchers say that the probability of dying stabilizes in old age and this would imply that people can live until a very advanced age. There is no fixed limit. "

This research" provides compelling evidence that this latter hypothesis is the true one. And it's consistent with what I've found, "according to De Beer.

The new study has shown that even though the risk of dying increases with age – at age 50, the risk of dying is three times higher than at 30 – once we reach the # 39, age 105, this risk trays 50%, meaning you have a chance to live another year.

"At this moment, the oldest person in the world, a Japanese woman, she has a 50% chance of living up to age 118. And once she's 118, she has 50% chance of becoming 119, "said de Beer

The study involved 3,836 Italians aged 105 and over between 2009 and 2015. Inaccuracies resulting from insufficient data hampered previous research. However, the quality of the data from this study allowed for a precise examination of extreme mortality, according to the research team.

Before the 19th century, the average life expectancy ranged between 30 and 40 years. However, considerable advances in technology and medicine have extended life expectancy. The overall life expectancy was 72 years in 2016.

Jeanne Calment, French, still holds the record for the oldest person: she was 122 years old when she died in 1997. [19659004Thenewresearchwhileshowingaplateauattheriskofdeathalsoshowedaslightdeclineindeathratesamongpeoplewhoreachage105-atrendthatsuggeststhathumanlongevitycouldincreaseovertime

Yet more research with a larger sample is needed to win in the scientific community. to de Beer. It could take a long time.

"The only thing we can do is wait until the number of centenarians increases, especially in Japan," said de Beer. "We would expect more people to reach the age of 110, but it will take time, so I'm afraid the discussion can not be decided in the next two years. "