How Long Can Humans Live? Insights from Dr. Jay Olshansky

Listen to this episode of Longevity by Design on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 

In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Jay Olshansky, a leading professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and a renowned expert in aging and biodemography. Together, they delve into the science of longevity, exploring how public health advancements in the 20th century revolutionized life expectancy and what lies ahead in the quest to extend both lifespan and healthspan.

Dr. Olshansky unpacks the biological limits of human longevity, shedding light on why life expectancy gains are slowing despite medical advancements. He explains the interplay between genetics, lifestyle choices, and aging, emphasizing how societal factors like inequality and access to healthcare impact longevity outcomes. Key concepts like "life table entropy" reveal why breakthroughs in aging science are essential to push beyond the current boundaries.

Tune in to gain actionable insights on diet, exercise, and monitoring health—all crucial for maximizing healthspan, regardless of your genetic blueprint.

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡Name: S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D.

💡What he does: Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health

💡Company:  University of Illinois Chicago

💡Noteworthy: Expert in aging, biodemography, and the biological limits of longevity.

💡Where to find them: LinkedIn

Episode highlights:

• Introduction: 00:00:00
• Dr. Olshansky book: 00:05:40
• What was the lifespan 100 years ago and what is it today?
  : 00:08:00
• Average vs longer lifespan: 00:19:00
• Death rate at extreme old ages: 00:22:00
• What can break the lifespan ceiling?: 00:26:27
• What are the chances of someone living up to 120 years old?: 00:28:00
• Disparities in Longevity: The Social Determinants of Health: 00:32:00
• GLP-1 as a longevity drug: 00:37:00
• Why women live longer than men: 00:41:00
• How does becoming a U.S. president impact lifespan and healthspan?: 00:46:00
• How long can our listeners aim to live?: 00:50:00
• What are the key milestones in longevity discoveries over the past few decades?: 00:55:00
• What is your top tip for a health span and longevity: 01:15:33

The Biological Ceiling of Human Longevity

Dr. Jay Olshansky explains why life expectancy gains are slowing, even with medical advancements. He introduces the concept of "life table entropy," showing that as life expectancy increases, each additional year becomes harder to achieve. Eliminating major diseases like cancer or heart disease adds only a few years to life expectancy, emphasizing the need to address the biological process of aging itself. Olshansky asserts that breakthroughs in aging science, rather than disease-specific cures, are necessary to extend the human lifespan beyond current limits. He highlights that while longevity progress has plateaued in many developed nations, innovations targeting the biological mechanisms of aging could break this "glass ceiling."

The Role of Lifestyle in Healthspan

Dr. Olshansky underscores the importance of exercise, diet, and early health investments in extending healthspan. He explains that lifestyle choices, such as avoiding smoking and maintaining physical activity, significantly impact long-term health outcomes. While these behaviors may not dramatically increase lifespan, they improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of age-related diseases. Olshansky also shares a personal anecdote about losing weight through small, consistent steps, emphasizing the cumulative effect of daily habits. He advocates for regular health monitoring and behavior modification as critical tools for maintaining vitality and independence well into old age.

Disparities in Longevity: The Social Determinants of Health

The episode delves into how social determinants, such as income, education, and access to healthcare, create stark disparities in life expectancy. Dr. Olshansky uses the example of Chicago neighborhoods to illustrate how life expectancy can vary by 10-15 years within a few miles due to factors like food deserts and healthcare access. He argues that addressing these inequalities is essential for improving population-wide longevity. While advances in medicine extend "manufactured time" for many, the benefits are not equitably distributed, highlighting the urgent need to address systemic barriers to health equity.

The Historical Evolution of Longevity

Dr. Jay Olshansky discusses how public health advancements in the 20th century revolutionized life expectancy. He explains that life expectancy at birth in 1900 was significantly influenced by high infant and maternal mortality rates. However, the introduction of vaccines, antibiotics, and improved sanitation led to a "longevity revolution" that raised life expectancy from 40-50 years to around 80 years by the late 20th century. He also highlights the shift in mortality patterns, with gains now primarily in middle and old age, but at a much slower rate.
"The reason why we had a quantum leap in life expectancy in the early 20th century was because infant mortality was reduced dramatically. We brought down infectious diseases, and public health had a very powerful influence on the duration of life."

The Reality of Radical Life Extension

Dr. Olshansky challenges claims of radical life extension, arguing that significant biological and statistical barriers make extreme longevity unlikely without breakthroughs in aging science. He outlines how reducing all causes of death today would still not yield average life expectancies much beyond 90 years. While acknowledging advancements in life-extending technologies, he stresses that unless the biological process of aging is altered, gains will remain incremental.
"You'd have to turn a centenarian into like a 20-year-old in terms of their mortality risk in order to achieve radical life extension. Mechanically, our bodies weren't designed to last as long as radical life extension requires."

Gender Differences in Longevity

The episode explores why women tend to outlive men, a phenomenon observed across species. Dr. Olshansky speculates that biological factors related to reproduction may play a role, but he emphasizes the lack of definitive answers. He notes that this disparity starts as early as conception and that males face higher mortality rates. By old age, the gender gap widens further, with women significantly outnumbering men among centenarians.
"If I had to guess, it’s probably associated with reproduction. Females are the ones pushing out offspring, but the actual mechanics of what protects women longer than men, I don’t know."

For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast

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