Latest news with #Superpower
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Could these apps help you live forever?
Would you want to live to 100? Maybe even 150? What if you could live forever? A century ago, health fanatics pinned their hopes on animal gland transplants – think monkey testicles sewn onto human testicles – in the belief it would restore youth and vigour, reversing the ageing process. Others turned to health tonics containing radioactive elements such as radium, which promised a youthful glow but often led to devastating results. More recently, tech billionaires have been injecting the blood of teenagers to try to rejuvenate their ageing bodies. In 2025, a new generation of health products is continuing the illustrious promise of living longer. Their websites are compelling: 'Peak health starts now'. 'We're your super app for health.' 'Future-proof your body.' The difference between now and 100 years ago? These fountains of youth are predominantly delivered via a smartphone – do not involve monkeys or young people – and are more anchored in actual science. Some of them are, at least. There are potentially billions of dollars on offer for the companies that can get there first. Biohackers, tech bros and the 'Huberman crowd' – followers of American neuroscientist and wellness podcaster Andrew Huberman – are early adopters of these new preventative care apps in pursuit of better sleep, healthier bodies and ultimately a desire to extend their lifespan. Proponents say that while many people already track their 10,000 steps and heart rates, most lack access to the deeper health data that could identify potential concerns before they develop into serious conditions. In the US, flashy apps such as Superpower are leading the charge. That app, co-founded by Australian expat Max Marchione, is already worth more than $US300 million ($453 million) and has more than 150,000 people on its waiting list. In Australia, a similar race is heating up, and some of its players are confident they can conquer the US, too. The apps are ballooning in valuation and hype but are facing their biggest test: can they broaden their customer base beyond early adopters and tech geeks to everyday users? Can they get mums and dads excited about biomarkers, gut microbiomes and toxins? An AI doctor in your pocket One of Australia's leading contenders is Everlab, which describes itself as the nation's leading personal longevity clinic. The start-up combines diagnostics, digital doctor consultations and AI to tackle chronic disease, and tens of thousands of Australians are on its waiting list. Everlab is led by chief executive Marc Hermann, who says the COVID pandemic prompted a new generation of people to become fanatical about healthcare and taking better care of themselves. His start-up charges $2999 annually for its longevity program, in which customers are screened for more than 1000 diseases, offered year-round diagnostics and provided a '50-year personalised health road map'. A cheaper tier for $1199 a year includes blood tests, doctor consultations and personalised intervention plans. If Everlab has its way, it might eventually replace GPs, according to Hermann. 'I really do believe that we will end up in this world where everyone will have their AI doctor in their pocket,' he says. 'The north star we are building towards is autonomous healthcare. So building a system that has all the context surrounding you, all your data, genetics, ethnicity, family history, and then creating a super personalised roadmap for your health. 'We want to build towards offering lifelong care that is deeply connected and holistic, versus just a one-off testing service.' To date, Everlab has processed more than 1 million biomarkers through full-body health testing, and says one in four test results are abnormal. For 2.5 per cent of members, the findings have been life-changing, according to Hermann, uncovering serious conditions such as blocked arteries, gastrointestinal tumours, early-stage cancers and congenital brain abnormalities. 'Our target audience is that 40-to-60 age range, people that want to have peace of mind and a clinician that they can really trust ... Just average Australians who are conscious about being on top of their health.' The company has raised $15 million to expand internationally and get a leg-up in the arms race. 'We are seeing a major shift,' Everlab investor Laura Sillam, principal at New York-based Left Lane Capital, said. 'From concierge clinics to diagnostics memberships and longevity programs, consumers are increasingly willing to invest out-of-pocket in proactive health solutions. This trend extends far beyond early adopters, biohackers or the so-called 'Huberman crowd' in coastal US cities. 'Demand is surging globally, with consumers showing a clear willingness to pay for superior healthcare experiences that prioritise personalisation and quality. We believe this shift isn't just a trend ... It's the future of healthcare.' 'The last health app you need' Everlab is far from the only local start-up attempting to corner the market. Sydney-based firm Bright is building the 'super app for health' and is courting US investors including venture capital giant Sequoia. Its app is far cheaper than rivals – just $20 a month, not hundreds or thousands – and is targeting 1 million users by the end of 2026. 'Our vision is to be the last health app you need,' the company's pitch deck to investors reads. 'We are building a $20 billion business in two years. One billion people use health apps today. Bright is ready to replace them all.' Those are bold claims and, so far, the company has racked up 6000 paying subscribers for its app, which pulls in health data from a user's Apple Watch or Garmin fitness tracker to create a full picture of health and then offer AI-generated insights and recommendations. Chief executive Bryan Jordan says building Bright from Australia has brought challenges, particularly given the limited financial capital on offer locally. 'We don't think the full picture of health should be reserved for the tech crowd. We're building Bright for everyone because everyone deserves to see their full picture.' Then there's Superpower. Arguably the hottest app in its class globally, its founding team in San Francisco have pulled in tens of millions in funding from Silicon Valley venture capital firms as well as celebrities Vanessa Hudgens, Steve Aoki, Logan Paul and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo. For $US499 a year, the 'super app' offers a 24/7 concierge, and biannual lab testing that analyses more than 100 blood biomarkers across 21 categories, which executives say is 10 times more comprehensive than a standard physical. Tests take 10 minutes and are completed twice a year either at home or at one of 2000 partner labs across the US. Co-founder Max Marchione is a former student at St Aloysius College in Sydney's Milsons Point. A third of the app's 80 or so staff are Australians. 'The current healthcare system currently leaves most people visiting primary care doctors on a reactive basis after a problem arises, not before,' he says. 'We are on a mission to rescue 100 million people from the limits of traditional reactive care.' Others are taking a more extreme approach. Snake oil Bryan Johnson is a US-based millionaire who doesn't just want to live for 100 years, or even 150. Johnson wants to live forever. The subject of a recent Netflix documentary, Johnson has launched the Blueprint project which has a simple end goal: 'Don't die.' Johnson has spent $US4 million to date on obtaining immortality and calls himself 'the world's most measured man'. At one point he transferred blood plasma from his 18-year-old son – and gave some of his own to his 70-year-old father – but stopped after it didn't produce positive results. As The Guardian puts it: 'He rises at 4.30am, eats all his meals before 11am, and goes to bed – alone – at 8.30pm, without exception. In the intervening hours, he ingests more than 100 pills, bathes his body in LED light, and sits on a high-intensity electromagnetic device that he believes will strengthen his pelvic floor.' On his Blueprint website Johnson sells a range of supplements and pills, and even a bottle of olive oil called 'snake oil'. Closer to home, multimillionaire property developer Tim Gurner has made headlines for his radical biohacking regime. His Melbourne-based longevity club Saint Haven spruiks a $250,000 annual package offering annual full-body MRI, brain scans and monthly blood testing. 'Anything that is out there that's a biohacking or testing thing, I've done it,' he told Forbes Australia. 'From micro-dosing mushrooms to infrared saunas to steam to [smart ring] Oura, lymphatic drainage. Everything. I want to try everything and see what works for me.' Millionaires can afford to try anything. But can everyday Australians benefit from these contentious innovations? Professor Luigi Fontana from the University of Sydney, a world expert in longevity, says there's legitimacy in apps such as Everlab and Superpower. But he's also concerned the hype may be getting ahead of the science. 'These platforms have real potential to empower users with insights that complement – not replace – traditional healthcare, especially when integrated with regular check-ups and foundational habits like structured exercise programs, sleep and healthy nutrition,' he says. Loading 'But the promise only holds if the science is sound and the interventions are grounded in the best clinical evidence, not hype.' Hermann, chief executive of Everlab, says he thinks most Australians should want to sign up to his app. 'We don't want to build a luxury for service for the top 1 per cent,' he says. 'We think this is something that can help most people. Being data-driven is the solution to better care. 'We don't think it makes sense to run an MRI scan on every 18-year-old. We just believe that, if you have a certain set of risks, the potential upsides are way bigger than the downsides.'
The Age
5 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Could these apps help you live forever?
Would you want to live to 100? Maybe even 150? What if you could live forever? A century ago, health fanatics pinned their hopes on animal gland transplants – think monkey testicles sewn onto human testicles – in the belief it would restore youth and vigour, reversing the ageing process. Others turned to health tonics containing radioactive elements such as radium, which promised a youthful glow but often led to devastating results. More recently, tech billionaires have been injecting the blood of teenagers to try to rejuvenate their ageing bodies. In 2025, a new generation of health products is continuing the illustrious promise of living longer. Their websites are compelling: 'Peak health starts now'. 'We're your super app for health.' 'Future-proof your body.' The difference between now and 100 years ago? These fountains of youth are predominantly delivered via a smartphone – do not involve monkeys or young people – and are more anchored in actual science. Some of them are, at least. There are potentially billions of dollars on offer for the companies that can get there first. Biohackers, tech bros and the 'Huberman crowd' – followers of American neuroscientist and wellness podcaster Andrew Huberman – are early adopters of these new preventative care apps in pursuit of better sleep, healthier bodies and ultimately a desire to extend their lifespan. Proponents say that while many people already track their 10,000 steps and heart rates, most lack access to the deeper health data that could identify potential concerns before they develop into serious conditions. In the US, flashy apps such as Superpower are leading the charge. That app, co-founded by Australian expat Max Marchione, is already worth more than $US300 million ($453 million) and has more than 150,000 people on its waiting list. In Australia, a similar race is heating up, and some of its players are confident they can conquer the US, too. The apps are ballooning in valuation and hype but are facing their biggest test: can they broaden their customer base beyond early adopters and tech geeks to everyday users? Can they get mums and dads excited about biomarkers, gut microbiomes and toxins? An AI doctor in your pocket One of Australia's leading contenders is Everlab, which describes itself as the nation's leading personal longevity clinic. The start-up combines diagnostics, digital doctor consultations and AI to tackle chronic disease, and tens of thousands of Australians are on its waiting list. Everlab is led by chief executive Marc Hermann, who says the COVID pandemic prompted a new generation of people to become fanatical about healthcare and taking better care of themselves. His start-up charges $2999 annually for its longevity program, in which customers are screened for more than 1000 diseases, offered year-round diagnostics and provided a '50-year personalised health road map'. A cheaper tier for $1199 a year includes blood tests, doctor consultations and personalised intervention plans. If Everlab has its way, it might eventually replace GPs, according to Hermann. 'I really do believe that we will end up in this world where everyone will have their AI doctor in their pocket,' he says. 'The north star we are building towards is autonomous healthcare. So building a system that has all the context surrounding you, all your data, genetics, ethnicity, family history, and then creating a super personalised roadmap for your health. 'We want to build towards offering lifelong care that is deeply connected and holistic, versus just a one-off testing service.' To date, Everlab has processed more than 1 million biomarkers through full-body health testing, and says one in four test results are abnormal. For 2.5 per cent of members, the findings have been life-changing, according to Hermann, uncovering serious conditions such as blocked arteries, gastrointestinal tumours, early-stage cancers and congenital brain abnormalities. 'Our target audience is that 40-to-60 age range, people that want to have peace of mind and a clinician that they can really trust ... Just average Australians who are conscious about being on top of their health.' The company has raised $15 million to expand internationally and get a leg-up in the arms race. 'We are seeing a major shift,' Everlab investor Laura Sillam, principal at New York-based Left Lane Capital, said. 'From concierge clinics to diagnostics memberships and longevity programs, consumers are increasingly willing to invest out-of-pocket in proactive health solutions. This trend extends far beyond early adopters, biohackers or the so-called 'Huberman crowd' in coastal US cities. 'Demand is surging globally, with consumers showing a clear willingness to pay for superior healthcare experiences that prioritise personalisation and quality. We believe this shift isn't just a trend ... It's the future of healthcare.' 'The last health app you need' Everlab is far from the only local start-up attempting to corner the market. Sydney-based firm Bright is building the 'super app for health' and is courting US investors including venture capital giant Sequoia. Its app is far cheaper than rivals – just $20 a month, not hundreds or thousands – and is targeting 1 million users by the end of 2026. 'Our vision is to be the last health app you need,' the company's pitch deck to investors reads. 'We are building a $20 billion business in two years. One billion people use health apps today. Bright is ready to replace them all.' Those are bold claims and, so far, the company has racked up 6000 paying subscribers for its app, which pulls in health data from a user's Apple Watch or Garmin fitness tracker to create a full picture of health and then offer AI-generated insights and recommendations. Chief executive Bryan Jordan says building Bright from Australia has brought challenges, particularly given the limited financial capital on offer locally. 'We don't think the full picture of health should be reserved for the tech crowd. We're building Bright for everyone because everyone deserves to see their full picture.' Then there's Superpower. Arguably the hottest app in its class globally, its founding team in San Francisco have pulled in tens of millions in funding from Silicon Valley venture capital firms as well as celebrities Vanessa Hudgens, Steve Aoki, Logan Paul and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo. For $US499 a year, the 'super app' offers a 24/7 concierge, and biannual lab testing that analyses more than 100 blood biomarkers across 21 categories, which executives say is 10 times more comprehensive than a standard physical. Tests take 10 minutes and are completed twice a year either at home or at one of 2000 partner labs across the US. Co-founder Max Marchione is a former student at St Aloysius College in Sydney's Milsons Point. A third of the app's 80 or so staff are Australians. 'The current healthcare system currently leaves most people visiting primary care doctors on a reactive basis after a problem arises, not before,' he says. 'We are on a mission to rescue 100 million people from the limits of traditional reactive care.' Others are taking a more extreme approach. Snake oil Bryan Johnson is a US-based millionaire who doesn't just want to live for 100 years, or even 150. Johnson wants to live forever. The subject of a recent Netflix documentary, Johnson has launched the Blueprint project which has a simple end goal: 'Don't die.' Johnson has spent $US4 million to date on obtaining immortality and calls himself 'the world's most measured man'. At one point he transferred blood plasma from his 18-year-old son – and gave some of his own to his 70-year-old father – but stopped after it didn't produce positive results. As The Guardian puts it: 'He rises at 4.30am, eats all his meals before 11am, and goes to bed – alone – at 8.30pm, without exception. In the intervening hours, he ingests more than 100 pills, bathes his body in LED light, and sits on a high-intensity electromagnetic device that he believes will strengthen his pelvic floor.' On his Blueprint website Johnson sells a range of supplements and pills, and even a bottle of olive oil called 'snake oil'. Closer to home, multimillionaire property developer Tim Gurner has made headlines for his radical biohacking regime. His Melbourne-based longevity club Saint Haven spruiks a $250,000 annual package offering annual full-body MRI, brain scans and monthly blood testing. 'Anything that is out there that's a biohacking or testing thing, I've done it,' he told Forbes Australia. 'From micro-dosing mushrooms to infrared saunas to steam to [smart ring] Oura, lymphatic drainage. Everything. I want to try everything and see what works for me.' Millionaires can afford to try anything. But can everyday Australians benefit from these contentious innovations? Professor Luigi Fontana from the University of Sydney, a world expert in longevity, says there's legitimacy in apps such as Everlab and Superpower. But he's also concerned the hype may be getting ahead of the science. 'These platforms have real potential to empower users with insights that complement – not replace – traditional healthcare, especially when integrated with regular check-ups and foundational habits like structured exercise programs, sleep and healthy nutrition,' he says. Loading 'But the promise only holds if the science is sound and the interventions are grounded in the best clinical evidence, not hype.' Hermann, chief executive of Everlab, says he thinks most Australians should want to sign up to his app. 'We don't want to build a luxury for service for the top 1 per cent,' he says. 'We think this is something that can help most people. Being data-driven is the solution to better care. 'We don't think it makes sense to run an MRI scan on every 18-year-old. We just believe that, if you have a certain set of risks, the potential upsides are way bigger than the downsides.'
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- The Citizen
13 arrested in Blyvooruitzicht as police clamp down on illegal mining
13 arrested in Blyvooruitzicht as police clamp down on illegal mining The SAPS's Vala Umgodi task team in Gauteng made a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal mining this week when they swooped down on suspects in Blyvooruitzicht near Carletonville. The successful operation was carried out on Monday, July 14, as part of the ongoing Operation Vala Umgodi initiative targeting illicit mining syndicates and related crimes. During the operation, 13 suspects aged between 18 and 36 were arrested for a range of serious offences. These included possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, illegal explosives, and being in possession of a stolen vehicle that had been hijacked in Lenasia South. Police confiscated the grey Toyota Etios, which was positively linked to a carjacking case. In addition to the firearms and vehicle, police seized various explosives commonly used in illegal mining, including detonating cords, Superpower blasting cartridges, and a connector capped fuse. Several of the arrested suspects were also found to be in violation of the Immigration Act, further compounding the charges against them. All 13 suspects are expected to appear in the Oberholzer Magistrate's Court in the coming days. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Business Insider
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Buzzy AI health startup Superpower is making another acquisition to power its food-as-medicine push
Consumers increasingly want to take control of their health — including by taking control of what they eat. Buzzy AI startup Superpower just made its second acquisition of the year to capitalize on that interest. Superpower is building a health AI "super app" that combines biannual lab tests with users' health histories to create personalized lifestyle recommendations. The startup announced $30 million in Series A funding, led by Forerunner, just last month. Now, Superpower is buying at-home lab testing company Base, Business Insider has learned exclusively. Base, started by former Amazon engineer Lola Priego, provides at-home blood and saliva tests to help consumers improve habits like their sleep and diet with personalized lifestyle recommendations. It was Base's diet analysis business that sold Superpower on the deal. Superpower CEO Jacob Peters told BI that the startup bought Base primarily for its wealth of nutritional data, which he said "would save us a lot of clinical R&D" as Superpower digs deeper into food-as-medicine care. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Priego launched Base in 2019, and the company last raised a $3.4 million seed round in 2021 led by Female Founders Fund. Superpower is far from the only player interested in the nutrition market. Investors are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into nutrition care startups like Nourish and Fay Nutrition, while movements like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s " Make America Healthy Again" are taking hold. Those trends, too, are picking up steam with the explosion of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and a growing consumer fascination with longevity, as some look to hack their health and extend their lifespans. Superpower hits on that longevity care demand, with scores provided on its app measuring users' "biological age" and overall health. The startup even hired its own "chief longevity officer" in September. Still, Peters said Superpower isn't a longevity startup, adding that he thinks most consumers simply want to get a better hold on their health — "If you superpower your health, you superpower your life." Superpower is making M&A central to its strategy, an unusual approach for an early-stage startup. Base is its second acquisition of the year; Superpower bought women's health startup Feminade in January. Peters said he expects to see more consolidation across digital health to combine point solutions tackling small slices of the market. And Superpower itself wants to connect a broad range of offerings into its app so patients can get all of their health needs met in one place. "This probably won't be our last M&A," Peters laughed. Reimagining concierge care with AI Peters launched Superpower in 2023 alongside cofounders Max Marchione and Kevin Unkrich, CTO, born from their personal experiences with a broken healthcare system. Peters, for one, was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Crohn's disease a few years ago and spent four months in the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries and racking up seven-figure bills. "It was a big light bulb moment for me: as a person with health challenges, no one's really coming to save you," he said. He and the Superpower team set out to create an AI-powered experience inspired by concierge medicine, which typically offers more attentive healthcare at a higher price tag, and making that style of care more widely accessible with technology. Its approach has attracted investors from Susa Ventures to Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. Superpower's members take biannual lab tests, either at home or at one of Superpower's partner labs, to assess more than 100 blood biomarkers. The Superpower app then pulls in user data from patient medical records, the lab tests, and wearables, and surfaces AI-driven insights based on that data to help its members optimize their health across their nutrition, sleep, and hormones. Superpower's AI-generated action plans are reviewed by human care teams behind the scenes. Users can message their care teams to get further combined guidance from those human providers and AI. Many consumer health startups launch to focus on one or a few problems, as Ro and Hims and Hers did with conditions like erectile dysfunction and hair loss. Superpower wants to take a different approach, aiming to be comprehensive from day one, so the startup can be known for its platform rather than for any single offering, Peters said. That ambition comes with a cost: Superpower's memberships run $500 a year. While lower than what most Americans spend on healthcare in a year, that price point could put the app out of reach for many consumers. Peters said the Superpower team is thinking hard about how to make its services available to the largest group possible. Superpower launched to sell directly to consumers, but in the future, Peters said the startup may consider contracting with employers to cover the costs of its memberships for employees. "We want to build a platform that makes it easy to get the world's best healthcare to everyone at very low and accessible costs. That's the north star for us, to put a healthcare super app and AI doctor on everyone's phone," he said.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
How Old Are You? Pay $799 Here to Answer
Jeffrey Benabio, MD, MBA Last week, I had brunch with a professional athlete — the kind people queue up for autographs. I thought of asking for one, but there wasn't a right moment between "nice to meet you" and "Hey, could you pass the maple syrup?" She is a friend of a friend and, as is true of most people, including celebrity athletes, quite nice. "What's next for you?" we wondered as she nears retirement. "I'm trying to live to 120," she replied, humbly but seriously. Years ago, that answer would have sounded kooky. How would one even attempt such a thing? Other than following the regimen of Jeanne Calment— quit working, drink port before dinner, and smoke a cigarette at bedtime. Calment remains the longevity world champion, having exceeded Easter Wiggins's record of 116 years in 1991 before passing away in 1997 at the age of 122. She is the only human verified to have lived past 120. To declare you're trying to break a record that billions have failed to achieve is ambitious. But then again, I've never had anyone ask for my autograph — maybe I'm setting my goals too low. None of us were surprised by her answer; living long is having a moment. Silicon Valley types, bored of being merely rich, have turned their sights toward living long enough to spend their fortunes. Venture capitalists are pouring billions into startups with names like "Forever Labs" and "Superpower." Longevity medicine is everywhere — podcasts, bestseller lists, even my neighborhood coffee shop, which offers something called a "cellular regeneration latte" for $17. This represents a shift in how we think about medicine. Physician-podcaster Peter Attia, MD, describes the next era as 'Medicine 3.0,' a personalized and proactive alternative to the reactive, one-size-fits-all model of traditional healthcare. In this vision, prevention goes beyond vaccines and cholesterol checks to include continuous biometric monitoring, targeted supplementation, and algorithm-informed lifestyle choices. The promise? A longer 'health span' — more years lived in good health — and a compressed period of decline before death. The movement is seductive. It blends precision science with empowerment and self-optimization. But it also comes with caveats: high costs, uneven evidence, and a tendency to overemphasize what's measurable. This is what social scientist Daniel Yankelovich called the 'McNamara fallacy,' named after the Vietnam-era defense secretary who prioritized only what could be quantified — body counts, troop levels — while ignoring the human complexity of war. The same fallacy looms over longevity medicine: What's easy to track isn't always what matters most. Yet receiving your biological age number, which you paid $799 for, feels significant. If you're 53 and it says your biological age is 43, you feel like you got your money's worth! You can now feel smug around your fast-aging friends. (If it says 63, then better double up on your supplements). Either way, you likely have misplaced confidence in what you've learned. Different tests often give wildly different results. That doesn't make them worthless, but their precision masks a lack of clear meaning. Meanwhile, unquantifiable things like joy, purpose, and connection might do just as much for aging well, but there isn't a telomere test for those. The data-driven approach also skews incentives. If a supplement reliably increases NAD+ levels, it can be marketed around that metric, even if there's no proof that higher NAD+ leads to a longer or healthier life. Meanwhile, research by epidemiologist Jay Olshansky shows that, despite vast technological gains, improvements in life expectancy have slowed since 1990. Even a major intervention — say, reducing all-cause mortality by 20% — would only add a couple of years to the average American life. No supplement or space-age mattress comes close to that impact. So, while some gains may be real, they are likely smaller than we imagine — or than we're being sold. The odds of living to 100 have increased but remain slim. Proven strategies for increasing health span are well known: Eat well, exercise, limit alcohol, foster relationships, and choose your parents wisely. Most other protocols are unproven. Sure, you can spend your discretionary income on longevity hacks. Or you can spend it on having more children. (Ironically, having three or more appears to decrease life expectancy — but what a life it is!). I plan to live as long as I can but not at the expense of things that matter. I exercise, drink lightly, take a few vitamins, and love abundantly. I'm not trying to cheat death, just stay connected to this body that carries me through the world and to the people who deserve my care and attention for however long I get to be here. Importantly, although extending life is the goal, researchers haven't yet shown that morbidity can be meaningfully compressed. Living even more years with pain, macular degeneration, hearing loss, dementia, or heart failure is a mixed blessing. As one of my elderly patients once put it: 'People are stupid to think living to 100 is something to achieve, instead of something that happens to you if you're unlucky enough not to die younger.' As for our athlete friend, she has some statistical advantages. Professional athletes tend to live about 5 years longer than average. (Though apparently, making the Hall of Fame cancels that benefit — perhaps Pete Rose had the last laugh). With the current US life expectancy for women at 80.2 years, she's likely to make it to 85.2. She still has 35 years to go for 120. That's a lot of curcumin.
