Longevity leap: mind the healthspan gap

• Main Authors: Armin Garmany, Satsuki Yamada, Andre Terzic
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-09-01
• Series: npj Regenerative Medicine
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-021-00169-5

Abstract Life expectancy has increased by three decades since the mid-twentieth century. Parallel healthspan expansion has however not followed, largely impeded by the pandemic of chronic diseases afflicting a growing older population. The lag in quality of life is a recognized challenge that calls for prioritization of disease-free longevity. Contemporary communal, clinical and research trends aspiring to extend the health horizon are here outlined in the context of an evolving epidemiology. A shared action integrating public and societal endeavors with emerging interventions that target age-related multimorbidity and frailty is needed. A multidimensional buildout of a curative perspective, boosted by modern anti-senescent and regenerative technology with augmented decision making, would require dedicated resources and cost-effective validation to responsibly bridge the healthspan-lifespan gap for a future of equitable global wellbeing.