“Who wants to live forever” is the haunting echo from the theme song of “Highlander.” But some scientists are starting to try to figure out how we can live longer healthier lives. Doesn’t sound controversial does it? Yet it depends what the final goal, doesn’t it?
Time keeps ticking away...
There are many people who have started to look at old age as a disease that needs to be addressed. There is a certain amount of validity to that quest. What can we do to try to figure out what should be done and still stay within the bounds of morality and ethics?
Depending how you look at aging there are different sides to this dilemma. Do you see death as a point of passage to a better place or as a step in your path, or do you see it as a final aspect of a live (hopefully well lived)? If you see death as a doorway to heaven or a step in the route of reincarnation (just to give two examples) you probably wouldn’t want death to be conquered.
On the other hand if you look at life “rationally” without a thought to afterlife, you more than likely would like to see your natural lifespan extended to some degree. But even people in this camp have to see that if life is extended the population issue has to be a factor in this. How do we, as a race, control population with the consent of all. (Of all is seemingly impossible, in my opinion.)
Whatever group you put yourself into, I think that most people can agree that geriatric medicine should be concentrating on giving people good health throughout their lives. I would personally think that living a healthy, vigorous full life and then having a quick death is the best route. But what age do we aim for on the ‘long healthy life’ part?
If you look at websites like mprize.com it seems like they want to help people live a healthy life, while they are here, and to extend lifespan to some extent. Their mission statement contains the phrase “enable humans to live longer, better, and wiser, by defeating age-related disease and suffering.” I think that is a noble sentiment and it deserves general support.
Wherever you stand on the issue of aging, odds are you want it to be a part of your life, and when you get to the point where you are concerned; quality of life is the largest part of that. Whether through science, exercise, diet or some combination of those, life can be better as we move through it, if we take the time to take care of ourselves.
Do you want to live a longer healthier life? Having a healthy diet and lifestyle is the first step. <a href=”http://www.myidealdiet.com”>My Ideal Diet</a>
Feel free to drop me a line. I am always available to help. I only recommend things I have personally tested, so I can live in integrity and have full confidence in them
