How a long, healthy lifespan may be passed down across generations

Article excerpt

Why do some people remain vigorous into old age while others become frail decades earlier? Researchers are investigating whether a long, healthy lifespan, what scientists call "healthspan", can run in families. Life expectancy has surged over the past two centuries, but the number of years people spend disease-free has lagged behind. Understanding this gap has urgent implications for aging populations worldwide, as the difference between merely living longer and living well longer shapes both individual quality of life and public health strategy.