--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lifespan extension has never really been…" description: "\"Lifespan extension has never really been a goal of aging science, nor should it.\" — S. Jay Olshansky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/s-jay-olshansky-11747_aging_lifespan-extension-has-never-really-been_284695.jpg" --- # Lifespan extension has never really been a goal of aging… ![“Lifespan extension has never really been a goal of aging science, nor should it.” quote by S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/s-jay-olshansky-11747_aging_lifespan-extension-has-never-really-been_284695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/s-jay-olshansky-11747_aging_lifespan-extension-has-never-really-been_284695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/s-jay-olshansky-11747_aging_lifespan-extension-has-never-really-been_284695.jpg) > “Lifespan extension has never really been a goal of aging science, nor should it.” [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging research should focus on healthspan, not merely extending lifespan. **In simple terms:** Science should aim for healthier aging, not just longer life. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality of life in aging. Themes aging healthspan research ethics Mood critical analytical Type academic thought‑provoking When to use this quote - policy making - clinical trials - elder care Key Concepts longevity public health Questions to Reflect On - What metrics best measure healthy aging? - How can we shift funding toward healthspan? A Different Perspective Longer life without health may be undesirable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Lifespan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifespan/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [The last thing you ever want to do is extend the period of frailty and disability and make people unhealthy for a longer time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/the-last-thing-you-ever-want-to-do-is-extend-the-period-of-frailty/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [As long as humans have existed, we have always desired to live longer. Every society, every religion, every culture. Of course, they all failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/as-long-as-humans-have-existed-we-have-always-desired-to-live-longer/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [There is no empirical evidence to suggest that ageing in humans has been modified by any means, nor is there evidence that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/there-is-no-empirical-evidence-to-suggest-that-ageing-in-humans-has/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [I am confident that when I get really old, the human lifespan will be extended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-voigt/i-am-confident-that-when-i-get-really-old-the-human-lifespan-will-be/) [Jens Voigt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-voigt/) > [“How hazardous are high powered industrial sodium LASER exposures to night shift summit staff working at very high altitudes across their full lifespan?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/how-hazardous-are-high-powered-industrial-sodium-laser-exposures-to/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [The lifespan of players like myself is usually not a very long one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-slater/the-lifespan-of-players-like-myself-is-usually-not-a-very-long-one/) [Matthew Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-slater/) > [We also have people dying longer, we are able to keep people alive without much quality of life in many cases. We haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dychtwald/we-also-have-people-dying-longer-we-are-able-to-keep-people-alive/) [Ken Dychtwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dychtwald/) > [If you live looking back at all the regrets, you'll never live according to your fated lifespan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-live-looking-back-at-all-the-regrets-you-ll-never-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only way to live several lives in one lifespan is to write stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwas-mudagal/the-only-way-to-live-several-lives-in-one-lifespan-is-to-write-stories/) [Vishwas Mudagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwas-mudagal/) > [Being a CEO used to be something you did for 15 years. Now you do it for five, maybe. The lifespan is getting shorter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/being-a-ceo-used-to-be-something-you-did-for-15-years-now-you-do-it/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [“We are like fruitflies, measuring everything in terms of our own lifespan. But since our lifespans are so short, our perspective is entirely wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/we-are-like-fruitflies-measuring-everything-in-terms-of-our-own/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [“The average human lifespan compared to the age of the universe is the same as comparing a blink of an eye to that human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-k-brown/the-average-human-lifespan-compared-to-the-age-of-the-universe-is-the/) [John K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-k-brown/) > [In 1820, the average lifespan was just 26 years. Twenty-six years!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/in-1820-the-average-lifespan-was-just-26-years-twenty-six-years/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [Our physical health is dependent upon energy. We have a short lifespan compared with past Yuga's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/our-physical-health-is-dependent-upon-energy-we-have-a-short-lifespan/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The time is coming when man will be able to determine the length of his lifespan by controlling his diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-time-is-coming-when-man-will-be-able-to-determine-the-length-of/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) ## More by S. Jay Olshansky > [A lifetime of low calories has come naturally to the longest-lived people in the world... in the Japanese archipelago of Okinawa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/a-lifetime-of-low-calories-has-come-naturally-to-the-longest-lived/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [What we know for sure from our work and from others' is that mice have a life span of 1,000 days, dogs have 5,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/what-we-know-for-sure-from-our-work-and-from-others-is-that-mice-have/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [The modern rise of Alzheimer's Disease in the twentieth century is not a sign of failure. It's a sign of success. Success in living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/the-modern-rise-of-alzheimer-s-disease-in-the-twentieth-century-is/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [As soon as a handful of scientists come up with an intervention shown to influence aging in other species, they begin selling it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/as-soon-as-a-handful-of-scientists-come-up-with-an-intervention-shown/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [Reducing caloric intake is the only proven method of extending life. If caloric intake is reduced to 20 percent below maintenance, you can extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/reducing-caloric-intake-is-the-only-proven-method-of-extending-life/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [I'm not sure the least educated members of the population are missing out on the advances in medical technology as much as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/i-m-not-sure-the-least-educated-members-of-the-population-are-missing/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [Ageing is very rare. We only see it in humans and laboratory animals and in zoo animals and in our pets. Basically, organisms that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/ageing-is-very-rare-we-only-see-it-in-humans-and-laboratory-animals/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [People pushing the idea that everyone can live to be 100 are perpetuating a myth that goes all the way back to the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/people-pushing-the-idea-that-everyone-can-live-to-be-100-are/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [I have little doubt that gerontologists will eventually find a way to avoid, or more likely, delay, the unpleasantries of extended life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/i-have-little-doubt-that-gerontologists-will-eventually-find-a-way-to/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [We're not trying to make us live forever; we're not trying to even make us live significantly longer. What we're trying to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/we-re-not-trying-to-make-us-live-forever-we-re-not-trying-to-even/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [Death is a zero sum game for which there is no cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/death-is-a-zero-sum-game-for-which-there-is-no-cure/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [The Faustian trade of the 20th century was, we got 30 years of additional life, but in return we got heart disease, cancer, stroke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/the-faustian-trade-of-the-20th-century-was-we-got-30-years-of/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [As long as humans have existed, we have always desired to live longer. Every society, every religion, every culture. Of course, they all failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/as-long-as-humans-have-existed-we-have-always-desired-to-live-longer/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [Do we really want to continue to push out the envelope of survival only to see other things crop up that we may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/do-we-really-want-to-continue-to-push-out-the-envelope-of-survival/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [When you hit your 40s, you begin to take notice of the effects of aging because people that you know begin to die of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/when-you-hit-your-40s-you-begin-to-take-notice-of-the-effects-of/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) [Explore all 58 S. Jay Olshansky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lifespan extension has never really been a goal of aging science, nor should it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S. 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