How old can humans get? Scientists uncover max limit of human life
1. New research from the Netherlands reveals how long a maximum lifespan is for humans and it is impressively long
While rare, some people have reached the impressive milestone of 100 years or more, ranking among the world's oldest individuals. But what is the maximum potential human lifespan?
Recent research from the Netherlands suggests that the maximum lifespan may be around 115.7 years for women and slightly lower for men, at 114.1 years.
This conclusion comes from statisticians at Tilburg and Rotterdam’s Erasmus University, who analyzed data from 75,000 people who had passed away in the Netherlands over the last three decades. One of the study's authors, Professor John Einmahl, told *Medical Express*: “On average, people live longer, but the very oldest among us have not gotten older over the last thirty years. There is certainly some kind of a wall here. The average life expectancy has increased, but the maximum ceiling hasn’t changed.”
The researchers emphasized that their study focused on lifespan—the maximum age achievable with optimal health and self-care—rather than life expectancy.
These findings align with a similar U.S. study that determined human lifespan generally plateaus in the nineties and is unlikely to exceed 115 years.
This data contrasts with the exceptional case of Jeanne Louise Calment, a French woman who holds the world record for longevity, having lived to 122 years. Born in 1875, Calment passed away in 1997, setting a milestone yet to be surpassed.
Whether Calment’s record will ever be broken remains uncertain. However, Einmahl plans to publish his research soon, potentially shedding more light on what limits our longevity.
