How long can humans actually live? This is a question that has been asked since the dawn of time, and one that remains unanswered.
With modern medicine and advancements in technology, it's clear that life expectancy has increased drastically over the past century. But just how much longer are we living? Let’s take a closer look at human longevity to find out.
The Average Life Expectancy
In 1900, the average life expectancy for males in the United States was 46.3 years, while females had an average life expectancy of 48.3 years. By 2015, however, those numbers had jumped significantly to 76.2 years for males and 81.2 years for females—an increase of more than 30 years!
That number continues to grow steadily year after year as medical advances are made and more people have access to quality healthcare.
The Maximum Life Span
The maximum life span is different than the average life expectancy; it is the age at which we can expect no one to exceed it due to natural causes—essentially, the oldest any human being can be if they do not die from disease or other unnatural causes.
The current maximum life span is believed to be 122 years; this is based on verified records from Jeanne Calment who lived from 1875-1997 in France. She was 122 when she died, making her the oldest person ever recorded in history!
Factors Affecting Longevity
There are several factors that affect how long humans can actually live: genetics, lifestyle choices (such as diet and exercise), access to healthcare, stress levels, environment, and more all play a role in determining our longevity.
It's important to note that while most people will eventually die of natural causes at some point in their lives, there are those rare individuals who manage to defy aging due to genetic anomalies or other factors beyond our control.
These individuals serve as a reminder that anything is possible when it comes to extending our lifespans!
Conclusion:
Humans have come a long way since 1900 when it comes to increasing their lifespan; however there is still much work left to do before we can reach an indefinite lifespan or even exceed Jeanne Calment’s record-breaking age of 122 years old.
By understanding the factors that influence longevity and continuing our research into aging and death prevention methods such as gene therapy or stem cell treatments hospitals can help push boundaries even further so that someday we may achieve immortality - something many thought impossible only a few decades ago!
