"Since 1840, life expectancy at birth has risen about three months per year. Thus, every year a newborn lives three months longer than those born the previous year. Sweden, which keeps excellent demographic records, documents female life expectancy at 45 years of age in 1840 and 83 today. Experts even believe that with recent breakthroughs in science and medicine coupled with lifestyle changes, this number could reach far beyond 100 years. Tons of ethical and philosophical questions appear with that possibility.
What would longevity bring for the individual and for society? Does a longer life also go hand in hand with a physically and cognitively stable older age? Do we even want to live longer if we cannot keep our bodies fit for the task? And what about our societies? How would governments, institutions, communities and even our ideas about life itself cope with the changes?"
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