Longevity is a hot topic—and it’s a big deal, especially for Boomers who are beginning to think more seriously about the length and quality of their remaining life.
Tom Coughlin has written extensively about the Longevity Economy. Nathan Price and Lee Hood have explored how to achieve it in their book Scientific Wellness. Most recently, 60 Minutes ran a segment on longevity medicine featuring Dr. Peter Attia. Dr. Attia clearly suggested that longevity—or quality of life in later years—is defined by not experiencing the onset of chronic disease.
This perspective is often echoed in discussions of super agers and centenarians in Blue Zones: people who live exceptionally long lives without developing acute or chronic health issues, aside from childbirth.
Is the Absence of Chronic Disease the Right Benchmark?
Here’s where I have a beef.
While I believe we can live longer and better, is complete freedom from chronic disease really the bar we want to set? Is perfection becoming the enemy of good? If this is the benchmark, we risk excluding nearly 99% of American older adults—and at a relatively young age.
I would certainly be among that 99%.
Living Well With Chronic Conditions
I have arthritis, which led to two total hip replacements in my early 60s. I have high blood pressure, genetically inherited from my father. I’ve also had cancer. Thankfully, I am not obese and do not have diabetes or emphysema.
And while I can’t do everything I once could, I can still travel the world, speak publicly, and recently hike Donner Pass.
I sincerely wish I were free of chronic disease. But should I—and millions of older adults like me—resign ourselves to a shorter or lower-quality life? Or should we take meaningful steps to prevent additional health issues, whether entirely new conditions or complications related to existing diagnoses?
The answer seems obvious.
Redefining Longevity as Quality of Life
Both individuals and society benefit when we focus on improving physical, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing, even in the presence of chronic conditions. A healthier older population reduces strain on the U.S. healthcare system and the U.S. Treasury while improving day-to-day life for millions.
Thankfully, many older adults are already doing this.
Programs like Juniper’s Catalyst program support healthier longevity by providing access to better-quality foods, fitness opportunities, and diverse social experiences that build real community. Just as importantly, they educate participants about emerging wellness options and help individuals collect and analyze personal health data—so they can make better, more informed choices for their personal wellspan.
Moving Beyond the “Disease-Free” Narrative
What concerns me most is the hype around disease-free longevity goals. That ideal may be attainable for future generations—or for a rare few among today’s Boomers—but it is unrealistic for most of us.
Instead of promoting an unattainable standard, we should acknowledge reality and create a vision of healthier longevity—one that prioritizes:
- Delaying the onset of additional chronic disease
- Improving quality of life
- Supporting physical, emotional, and cognitive health
This approach serves individuals far better than an all-or-nothing definition of success. And it serves society far better, too.
Longevity should not be about perfection.
It should be about living well, for as long as possible, with the life we actually have.
