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Science

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

9. The lengthening of the human life span

Reply to kmlisle (Reply #6)

Wed Nov 28, 2012, 01:42 PM

Nov 2012

is almost entirely due to a huge drop in infant and childhood mortality. That's very important to keep in mind. People did not grow up sooner, age faster, and die of old age at a much earlier rate. No. If they made it to age 10, they'd probably make it to at least 50 or 60. And living to age 70 and more was by no means unheard of in the past. It's just that a lot more of us make to old age than we used to, mainly because we're not dying of all sorts of things earlier.

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Highlight:

Can a Jellyfish Unlock the Secret of Immortality? [View all] n2doc Nov 2012 OP

Fascinating--I wouldn't want to have to go through grammar school again, though! MADem Nov 2012 #1

I'd love to go through school again Gore1FL Nov 2012 #10

Ha ha ha...would we remember, going backwards, is that the trick? MADem Nov 2012 #13

very fascinating riverbendviewgal Nov 2012 #2

I love the point the researcher made LiberalEsto Nov 2012 #3

I will make two arguments against his statement phantom power Nov 2012 #5

Very well said. GaYellowDawg Dec 2012 #21

Very cool article, thanks. TwilightGardener Nov 2012 #4

Living longer sounds great at first kmlisle Nov 2012 #6

The lengthening of the human life span SheilaT Nov 2012 #9

One would hope that the smart ones would figure out that it's best to "live a little" before MADem Nov 2012 #14

Unfortunately, Mother Nature says "No" Ilsa Nov 2012 #17

I understand that...but if we can convince Mother Nature to say "no" to mortality, perhaps we can MADem Nov 2012 #20

Read or watch "Tuck Everlasting" antigop Nov 2012 #7

The Benjamin Button of sea life? Arugula Latte Nov 2012 #8

Who'd want to? Rider3 Nov 2012 #11

I do. DavidDvorkin Nov 2012 #12

If I could stay healthy? Sure...at least for two or three hundred years. MADem Nov 2012 #15

I'm with you! drmeow Nov 2012 #16

I have an immortal species in my garden--a strawberry plant. tclambert Nov 2012 #18

Mitt Romney can't unlock the secret to immortality! Don C. Nuttin Nov 2012 #19