The twentieth century saw incredible gains in global life expectancy: in 1900, the average person lived to 32 years, a figure that had more than doubled by 2000. This trend seems to have stalled in the most developed parts of the world. In Europe, for instance, life expectancy increased by almost three years from 2000 to 2010, but grew half as much in the following decade, and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a global dip in longevity.
Nature Index 2025 Ageing
Those harbouring hopes of humans finding new ways to improve lifespan can take solace in the fact that research in this area — through the relatively young interdisciplinary field of geroscience — is booming. By focusing on understanding the biological mechanisms underlying ageing, researchers are zeroing in on a number of treatments that hold the promise of slowing down the process, therefore reducing the risk of disease. Whether the end goal here is a longer life, or a longer period in which people remain healthy, is a key question.