Gerontology & Geriatric Research

How long must humans live?

2^nd International Conference on Geriatrics & Gerontology

August 24-26, 2015 Toronto, Canada

Bruce A Carnes

Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Gerontol Geriat Res

Abstract:

Species are defined by biological criteria. This characterization, however, misses the most unique aspect of our species; namely, an ability to invent technologies that reduce mortality risks. Older animals are rare in nature, but survival to old age has become common place in humans. Science now asks how long humans live, but we can suggest a more appropriate question is: How long must humans live. Three lines of evidence are used to identify the biological equivalent of a warranty period for humans and why it exists. The effective end of reproduction, the age when the sex ratio is unity and the acceleration of mortality reveals that approximately 50â??55 years is sufficient time for our species to achieve its biological mandate-Darwinian fitness. Identifying this boundary is biomedically important because it represents a transition from expected health and vigor to a period when health and vigor become progressively harder to maintain.

Biography :

Email: Bruce-Carnes@ouhsc.edu