Life Expectancy

According to the Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator (http://calculator.livingto100.com/calculator) my approximate expiration is at 87 years. I think, as of right now, this is an accurate estimate, although I was expecting low eighties.

However, these calculators are only useful assuming a static timeline, as in nothing is changing. It's likely that when I turn 21 I will have a few drinks a week, as opposed to now where I have none. It also doesn't predict future technologies which may increase my lifespan.

I thought that all of the questions were pretty fair, except the ones that can change drastically over time (drinking and dietary habits). I expected I will live until sometime in my eighties, so the calculator wasn't too big a surprise; unless Aubrey de Gray has his way and I live until my late four hundreds.

As for alcohol shortening life expectancy, which is what I assume this calculator took into effect, I have this study to show it. It's summed up nicely in this WebMD article.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20100824/moderate-drinking-may-prolong-life

Essentially people who drank a moderate amount of alcohol (a serving or two a day) have a greater life expectancy than those who drink heavily OR those who abstain entirely.

Here is the meta-analysis being referred to:

http://www.acsh.org/docLib/20040401_Moderate_Alcohol1993.pdf

What Processes Cause Aging?

The reading thoroughly discussed two consequences of the metabolic process and their relation to aging, simply put: “rusting,” and “browning.”

Rusting is essentially the buildup of damaging products, called free radicals, caused by oxidation. Whenever I used to hear about this theory, it was used as complete scientific evidence that free radicals will kill you. Companies then use this as a basis to sell anti-aging cures, usually in the form of “all-natural” herbs and remedies. It was really interesting to read about the theory coming from a credible source that cited experiments and empirical evidence. The oxidation theory was viewed as a doorway into understanding aging, like one more piece of the puzzle.

The buildup of glucose causing browning in our bodies (exactly what happens to meat when cooked) was totally new to me, and relates to aging much in the same way that the oxidation theory does. That is, that the buildup of free radicals causes damage to our cells and collagen. I thought this was really cool and it lends support to the idea that metabolism; the process we go through to live, also causes us to age.