Lifespan vs Healthspan

The cluster debates the distinction between extending lifespan and improving healthspan, with discussions on longevity claims, quality of life in old age, lifestyle factors like blue zones, and skepticism about living longer versus living healthier.

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4,461
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#7364
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

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Keywords

bluezones.com DR en.m USA ycombinator.com wikipedia.org longer live healthy lifespan life living ants lives queen longevity

Sample Comments

modwest May 31, 2020 View on HN

"longer life expectancy" is a very optimistic thing to say

dominotw Jul 6, 2016 View on HN

not everyone is trying to live as long as possible.

mensetmanusman May 19, 2025 View on HN

Who cares, a long healthspan feels great!

majkinetor Sep 13, 2025 View on HN

You want healthspan, not a lifespan.

r-zip Feb 23, 2022 View on HN

Living that long is not guaranteed.

th0ma5 Jan 11, 2025 View on HN

A gentle reminder those longevity claims may be suspect https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41738434

xcskier56 Jul 5, 2022 View on HN

I think that the bigger impact is improved quality of life when you’re old. Having a higher baseline health after 70 allows you to enjoy your later years much better. You may not live much longer but it’ll more likely be a longer period of relatively good health with a steep decline at the end as opposed to a long gradual decline where you’re able to do much less for a long period

antiterra Dec 6, 2022 View on HN

That can still be filed under ‘people living longer,’ no?

aha_throwaway Jul 5, 2023 View on HN

That average, there are people life longer than that.

rantwasp Oct 27, 2020 View on HN

i think the answer is yes. there is also an argument to be meant for healthspan vs lifespan (ie you don’t necessarily live much longer but the quality of life is dramatically improved)