Will human life expectancy quadruple in the next hundred years? Sixty gerontologists say public debate on life extension is necessary.
Sixty gerontologists were asked for estimates regarding the development of future life expectancy. For a person born in the year 2100, life expectancy estimates had a median of 100 years and a mean of 292 years. Changes in biogerontology suggest that the search for the "fountain of youth" is gaining respectability, becoming competitive with compression of morbidity as the predominant scientific goal. Appropriate debate should address questions raised by such a goal and prepare for sudden advances that may have a large impact on society.
Richel
Theo
T
Stationsstraat 43, 4421 AK Kapelle, The Netherlands. theo@richel.org
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D011639:Public Opinion