Health
Life expectancy in humans not likely to increase much more, study suggests
Human life expectancy has potentially been pushed to the max, new research suggests.
The recent increase in people’s longevity appears to be slowing down despite new developments in medicine, according to a study published in the journal Nature Aging.
During the 20th century, human life expectancy at birth rose by about 30 years in high-income nations, the study noted, driven by advancements in public health.
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Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) analyzed the national vital statistics of the longest-living populations in Australia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as Hong Kong and the United States, from 1990 to 2019.
The expectation that human life expectancy will surpass 100 years old is most likely untrue, the study revealed. (iStock)
Since 1990, the average life span has only risen 6-½ years in the countries in the study, which casts doubt on expectations that human life expectancy would exceed 100 years in people born today.
The researchers concluded that overall life expectancy improvements have slowed down, and that radical human life extension is “implausible in this century” unless the biological aging process can be “markedly slowed.”
‘Diminishing gains’
Study co-author S. Jay Olshansky, PhD, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UIC, shared his reaction in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
“The power of medicine to extend human life is extraordinary.”
“We’re demonstrating what actually happened in all of these populations in the last three decades,” he wrote in an email. “The decline in improvement was particularly pronounced in the United States.”
“As long as aging is unchanged, life extension through disease reduction must yield diminishing gains — that’s the overall conclusion in this paper.”
“The period of rapid increases in life expectancy is over,” the researchers concluded. (iStock)
The researcher also suggested that most people past age 60 are living on “manufactured time,” meaning they’re surviving on new medical technology.
“We should all be grateful that these life-extending technologies work, because without them, we would be living much shorter lives,” he said.
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Olshansky explained that humans were not made to live as long as they do now, as the natural life expectancy for humans is 30 to 60 years.
“This means the vast majority of the population that now lives past age 60 is living on survival time that was manufactured by medicine,” he said. “The power of medicine to extend human life is extraordinary.”
One of the study authors (not pictured) suggested that humans are surviving on time manufactured by modern medicine. (iStock)
Medical interventions for disease reduction could be considered “temporary” bandages, according to Olshansky.
“Living longer means we’re exposing ourselves to the currently immutable force of biological aging – which has already become the dominant risk factor for death in high-income countries,” he said.
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More than 30 years ago, researchers predicted that medicine would advance at “breakneck speed,” but that life expectancy wouldn’t follow, Olshansky noted.
“The prediction has come true and … the period of rapid increases in life expectancy is over,” he said.
Aging is tied to inflammation, one doctor noted, which can be treated with available medications. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, shared his opinion of the findings.
“I disagree with this because aging is tied to inflammation,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Current treatments (metformin, Lipitor, Ozempic, etc.) and diet strategies, as well as newer treatments in the works, may decrease oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance, all of which contribute to cellular longevity,” the doctor added.
‘Control what we can control’
The time has come for people to focus on healthspan extension, not lifespan extension, according to Olshansky.
“This paper represents the strongest empirical evidence supporting the need to slow aging, because the [bandages] we’re now creating may produce an expansion of our carespan – especially if they make us live longer and deeper into the aging red zone, where frailty and disability dominate.”
“We now have the rationale for why healthspan extension should be our primary goal going forward,” a researcher (not pictured) told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Olshansky advised the public to “control what we can control” and to avoid activities that shorten lifespan, such as unhealthy eating, smoking and substance abuse.
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The scientist also encouraged people to take advantage of access to medicine by visiting their doctor and taking prescribed medications.
“Take advantage of the social determinants of health — education and access to medical care — because these interventions work to increase the chances of living longer and healthier,” he said.
“And then focus on extending the most precious commodity on earth — healthy life.”
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A New Jersey family is desperately seeking a living donor to save Thaddeus Giansanti, an eighth-grader who was born with kidney disease.
Thaddeus has had multiple surgeries throughout his 13 years, including one to remove a kidney as a baby.
Despite his struggles, he has remained positive and optimistic, his parents shared with Fox News Digital.
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“His remaining kidney is now failing,” said his father, Carlo Giansanti. “We are not a match, so now we’re asking for help from the community.”
The family first found out about their son’s kidney disease before he was born, when an ultrasound detected a potential issue.
Christa DeMark and Carlo Giansanti are pictured with their son Thaddeus, who has battled kidney disease his entire life. (Christa DeMark)
“It was nothing alarming at that point — it looked like he had extra fluid when he was born,” Thaddeus’ mother, Christa DeMark, told Fox News Digital. “Everything seemed normal, but right before we were leaving, they noticed an elevated creatinine number (a measure of kidney function in blood tests) that led to us being in touch with nephrology.”
She added, “There was something wrong with the ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) and the formation of the kidneys.”
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Thaddeus spent an extended period of time in the NICU, where he had multiple procedures. Before he was even 5 months old, he underwent a left nephrectomy to remove his left kidney.
His remaining kidney was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, which has required lifelong medications.
“He’s been with nephrology and nephrologists his entire life, and up until last year, everything’s been stable, but that’s been slowly changing,” DeMark said. “He’s getting bigger, and it’s been putting more stress on his remaining kidney.”
Thaddeus, now 13, has had multiple surgeries throughout his life, including one to remove his kidney as a baby. (Christa DeMark)
Doctors informed the family that their best course of action would be to find a living donor.
“Everything’s been sped up based on his bloodwork lately,” DeMark said. “So it’s looking like we need something quicker than we thought, which is why we’re looking for living donors.”
“It has pushed us to rely on faith in a way that’s very palpable — we are just coming together as a family and taking each day as it comes.”
If Thaddeus does not receive a kidney transplant within a couple of weeks, he will need to be put on dialysis, according to his doctors.
“It’s obviously been challenging for him,” DeMark said. “He’s dealing with it very well, but these are difficult situations we’re navigating.”
His parents describe Thaddeus as a smart, outgoing boy — a straight-A student who was recently awarded multiple scholarships for next year, when he will become a high-school freshman.
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Thaddeus is very athletic and enjoys playing soccer, golfing and fencing. He also plays piano and often volunteers in his community, including being an altar server and working with the local food pantry.
“He loves his family, and loves doing things with his family,” DeMark said. “He’s just a great kid.”
The boy’s remaining kidney is failing, and his family is asking the community to help find a life-saving donor. (Christa DeMark)
Thaddeus’ parents said they have not shared much about their son’s medical condition until now. “We wanted Thad to just be the bright, happy person that he is, so we’ve minimized it for years,” DeMark said.
But in the last couple of weeks, as their son’s condition has become more dire, they have started to speak out about their situation.
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“We never expected to have such an outpouring of people who cared or people trying to help — it’s been incredibly humbling,” DeMark said.
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“It has pushed us to rely on faith in a way that’s very palpable — we are just coming together as a family and taking each day as it comes,” she went on. “We are remaining hopeful because we know there’s a solution to this problem. We just need help.”
“The miracle Thad needs right now is people who have the ability to step up,” his mother said. “He is a great kid, a kind kid.” (Christa DeMark)
To be considered for the donation program, kidney donors must be 45 or younger, have a BMI under 30 and match Thaddeus’ O blood type.
For those who are considering becoming donors, DeMark emphasized that it entails a laparoscopic procedure with a “fairly quick” healing process that is covered by their insurance, not the donor’s.
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“The miracle Thad needs right now is people who have the ability to step up,” she added. “He is a great kid, a kind kid.”
Those interested in being considered as a donor can complete this Kidney Transplant Living Donor Questionnaire.
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Country music star Jessie James Decker is getting real about her health and fitness this year, alongside her family.
In a viral moment posted to Instagram, Decker, who is married to former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker, shared a video of her squatting with a barbell at the gym. The caption reads: “2026 energy! LFG💪”
The video, which has more than 111,000 likes, promotes a focus on “marriage body,” rather than “revenge body.”
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“Forget revenge body. How about marriage body,” the text on the video reads. “How about we get hotter & hotter for the person who chose us forever”
Screenshots from a video posted to Jessie James Decker’s Instagram account on Jan. 19, 2026. (Instagram @jessiejamesdecker)
The post received praise from other celebrities and influencers.
“Biggest fan of this belief,” actress and wellness influencer Daniella Monet commented.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Decker revealed some of her top wellness habits that help her uphold these standards, while feeling her best mentally and physically.
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The mother of four responded that her No. 1 wellness tip is drinking lots of water.
“Water, water, water,” she said. “I drink water all day. I even have it next to my bed, drinking it all night.”
The celebrity swears by drinking water throughout the day and night for better overall health, although it’s the “boring answer.” (iStock)
“My mom swears by it. My mom walks miles and miles every day, drinks tons of water, and she literally looks like she’s aging backwards,” the singer added. “We’re like Benjamin Button. We’re about to meet in the middle and look the same age here soon. She looks incredible.”
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In addition to focusing on hydration, Decker continues to follow many of her mother’s practices, including eating “really healthy.”
“We cook everything at home. I mean, I barely go out,” she said. “Everything I make is from scratch from home.”I really think when you know what you’re putting in your body, that’s the best bet always.”
Jessie James Decker is seen during a segment of “Good Day New York” on Jan. 29, 2026, in New York City. (Michael Simon/Getty Images)
She summarized, “Water, cook at home and just stay active — it’s really that simple.”
Decker also instills this mentality into her children — Vivianne, Eric Jr., Forrest and Denver — as sports, outdoor play and pickleball are daily rituals in their household.
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“You know, Vivi’s a gymnast — she’s in the gym five days a week … And little Eric is constantly doing sports,” she told Fox News Digital.
“They’re active … they are busy, busy, busy. They don’t sit around on iPads. They’re out there in the wildlife, barefoot and being free.”
Staying active is something the entire family embraces together, especially when they’re traveling.
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“We’ve done family workouts together, [and] we stay active together,” the singer said. “Maybe when we’re on vacation, we’re doing bike rides together, or whether it’s a football game outside or throwing the ball on the beach.”
One sport in particular has become a family favorite.
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“We love pickleball. That’s probably the thing we all do every day,” Decker said. “We have a pickleball court in the backyard, and if we go on vacation, my husband’s like, ‘Is there a pickleball court at this place?’”
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