Feb

16

Longevity Part 2

Posted by cameron

February 16, 2007 |

Its funny how the number 120 keeps coming up. Following are two notable occurrences of that number.

In my days as a personal trainer we were taught to estimate a clients maximum heart rate by the formula 220 minus age. I always wondered if we lived to 220 would our heart rate be zero? Of course no one does. Lets take the rate at 120 years old; the estimated maximum heart rate would only be 120. It is quite likely that a person at that age could barely get out of a chair without feeling exhausted. They would just sit and fade away. When you play with these numbers it seems that life, as it is meant to be, would be over at 120, or something close to that.

I noticed an article today on my “Nova Science Now” feed, a Q&A session with Lenny Guarente, a Novartis Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to his Bio, Lenny has researched the molecular mechanisms for aging in various organisms since 1981. I quote; “Analysis of human actuarial tables—statistics showing, among other things, the number of deaths at each age—suggests that maximum lifespan of humans is about 120 years.”

At 60 years young I am pleased to announce I am now officially middle aged.


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