Happy New Year! Ever since I was young, 2020 seemed like such a distant future, so I can’t believe it’s already here. So far, my posts have been more involved in music, so for this post, I decided to discuss the aging world in general. According to the United Nations, by 2050, 1 in 6 people will be 65 years old or older (compared to 1 in 11 people in 2019). This means that the population of people 65 or older will be about doubled in this time. Developed countries will have a greater proportion of seniors, while less developed countries will have less, but the general trend is toward an older population. This brings along challenges in the healthcare system because of a greater demand for senior care but a decrease in young workers to take care of the seniors.
What causes this demographic shift? Along with all the technological advancements we see everyday, medicine is a great one. Antibiotics and vaccines have reduced the number of deaths due to communicable diseases. Sophisticated screening tools have helped doctors identify abnormalities earlier, leading to an earlier treatment. Astonishing breakthroughs, like using 3D printed body parts and gene therapy, have saved many people’s lives. Even just a broader knowledge about health has lead to people making more conscious, healthy choices, like quitting smoking and eating fresh foods. All of these and more have led to healthier, longer-living people. Another factor is changes in fertility rates. In the 1960s, the average number of children a woman had was 5. Now, the average is just below 2.5 children. This decrease in average number of children is due to more countries becoming developed and more women having the opportunity to obtain an education and career, making having children less of a priority. Although it may seem like in the near future, there won’t be enough people able to work, therefore bringing the economy into a crisis, it likely won’t be this way. Even if seniors can’t contribute to physical labor, they can still contribute wisdom and experience. Even more, age shouldn’t be the definition of ability, which can vary depending on the health of a person. I think the World Economic Forum brought up an interesting comparison about this concept: a pint of beer that cost $0.65 in 1952 costs $3.99 today. As just numbers, it seems like the price has gone up exponentially, but with inflation considered, the price has actually decreased. The inflation-adjusted price for the 1952 beer is $5.93. Similarly, a 75-year-old today has the same mortality rate as a 65-year-old in the 1950s. Who knows, as noted by David Sinclair, a Harvard genetics professor, it could be that by the end of the century, people will be 80 years old and still active and have the potential to live up to 150 years old
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