Longevity expectations can mislead or inform. Today’s life expectancy chart for 2026 notes an increase of life expectancy at birth to 79. Of course, that is a silly number to mention among the 65+ population which can expect to live into their mid-80s. And the physical condition they are in varies all over the map. You notice the very frail in their 80s walking carefully with a cane or walker. You also see people in their late 80s jumping up and down in a water aerobics class. Or people in their 70s and beyond lifting heavy weights in a gym or bicycling long distances.
These differences reveal a sharp contrast between health span and life span. Some of the differences in health status cannot be fully controlled today with medication, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Parkinson’s – at least so far. Individuals with these diseases can still live into their 80s though their mobility and health are compromised.
Health span is noticeable distinct among older adults. The quality of lives of those with arthritis or Parkinson’s is reflected in their reduced health span, that is the number of years they remain in reasonably good health. Johns Hopkins researcher in the Human Aging Project (HAP), Jeremy Watson, offered a breakdown of health status in an average roomful of 80 year olds. He noted that “15 percent are frail and vulnerable, 60% have health issues that slow them down and the remaining 25% are robust and active.”
Is AI an enabler for understanding and lengthening health span? AI technologies today are proving useful for monitoring and improving the wellbeing of older adults. For example, AI has already been identified as a unifying dashboard for helping older adults, “monitoring steps, sleep quality, gait assessment, and fall prediction,” according to Ken Honeycutt, Samsung Electronics. However, some suggest that extending health span (versus intervening when there are already problems) has yet to be effectively tackled with predictive medicine. SOme say its role in extending health span is not yet well defined though numerous efforts are underway.
[Future blogs/reports will tackle this topic in more detail.]
