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Concerns Related to Lifespan Development

Human life expectancy has been steadily increasing since 1700. This is in large part due to better nutrition and medical care, but scientists theorize that it might also be a type of evolution. However, a human's increased lifespan requires resources to maintain that life, and the continued use of these resources might be taxing to the environment.

  1. Health Concerns

    • Even though a person in 2011 lives longer than a person did in 1900, there is still a significant decrease in natural functions after age 80. This obligates the health care industry to care for the aging and elderly, creating a public burden for taxpayers, but also detracts from a person's quality of life after age 80. However, as the mortality rate lowers for the over-70 population, good health into later life increases. Robert Fogel coined the term technophysio-evolution which theorizes that an elderly individual's positive influence on the development of the generation after her is contributing to the increase in life expectancy.

    Environmental Concerns

    • The significant increase in human life expectancy in the developed world, without any significance decrease in birth rates, means that population is booming. Human populations are supported by natural resources, such as fossil fuels and agricultural products. As the population grows so does the demand for these life-sustaining resources. The harvesting of these resources to support large populations places a burden on the earth. But, as of 2011, development of the use of bio-fuels and sustainable farming techniques might relieve some of the burden for future generations.

    Animal Testing

    • Testing of methods for extending human life expectancy is performed on animals. Laws against human testing obligate scientists to turn to primates as test subjects. Many cruelty-free charities lobby against this animal testing. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), for example, provides support to organizations that raise funds to stop animal testing by research scientists.

    Limited Lifespan

    • In 1980, James Fries, a proponent of a limited-lifespan, predicted that humans have a naturally built-in expiration date. Fries believes the significant decline in biological functioning after age 80 is evidence of this life expectancy cap. This theory contends that forcing the life expectancy of an individual past this point is fruitless because his final year is pre-programmed in his DNA.

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