How long can we live? Limit hasn't been reached: Study

Data from new research on elderly Italians suggests that humans are not yet close to the biological ceiling

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Since 1900, average life expectancy around the globe has more than doubled, thanks to better public health, sanitation and food supplies. But a new study of long-lived Italians indicates that we have yet to reach the upper bound of human longevity.

"If there's a fixed biological limit, we are not close to it," said Ms Elisabetta Barbi, a demographer at the University of Rome. Ms Barbi and her colleagues have published their research in the journal Science.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 05, 2018, with the headline How long can we live? Limit hasn't been reached: Study. Subscribe