How to “Live Long and Prosper!”
When “Star Trek’s” Mr. Spock said, “Live long and prosper,” he could have been telling 21st-century folks to start taking advantage of the longevity revolution that was sweeping over them — one that promised a longer life than their grandparents could have imagined, but
did not guarantee they would prosper, either in good health or overall quality of life. That, the logical Vulcan would have pointed out, depends on wise choices.
But there are some basic guidelines that will keep your brain sharp, your muscles and bones strong, and your blood flowing through open, flexible veins so that you can thrive. The Paradox of Promise and Peril As medical science defeats ever more diseases, even people who become seriously ill are living longer and longer. Yet in some countries (like our U.S. of A.) a corrupted food supply, sedentary lifestyle, the obesity and diabetes epidemics and a surge in deaths from illicit drug use, suicide and gun violence are shortening
lives. Two competing forces are at work.
The Longevity Boom
In 1800, children had a 34 to 40 percent chance of dying before age 10 and some researchers say that if kids made it to age 20, they could expect to live only another 20 years. But by 1929, life expectancy for newborns had increased to 57.1 years, and by 2014 it hit 78.8 years. And the number of folks living to be 100 is skyrocketing.