Nature published a study finding a human's lifespan may be fixed despite researchers' efforts to slow some aging aspects, according to STAT.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from about 40 countries in the Human Mortality Database.
Here are six notes:
1. In the study, researchers found the global population would have to be 10,000 times larger for an individual to be able to reach 126 years old in a given year.
2. The report found life expectancy hit a plateau around 1980 and has stayed stagnant since.
3. The study is likely to spur debate over whether aging research is valuable or whether this funding should be allocated toward other research.
4. Research dedicated to human lifespan has grown in interest since researchers doubled the lifespan of a worm in 1993.
5. Researchers also looked at the maximum death age each year for residents in Japan, France, the United Kingdom and the United States because these countries have the most people who live to 110 years. Researchers found the maximum age increased until the mid-1990s and has since marginally declined. However, researchers stated they only had limited data when analyzing this.
6. However, the researchers say technology could change this trend as the researchers note, "We don't know yet what the impact will be of new pharmaceuticals, new technologies. The past doesn't predict the future when it comes to technology."
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