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When most people imagine living to 100, they don’t picture joy, movement, or independence. They picture decline. Years spent in medical offices. A body that can’t keep up with the life they still want to live.That reaction reveals something important. The real problem isn’t how long we live. It’s how well we live those added years.In this episode, we explore the gap between lifespan (how long you live) and healthspan (how long you live well), and why so many people spend the last decade or two of life surviving instead of thriving. You’ll see why this gap exists, how modern healthcare and society make it worse, and what can be done to change the trajectory.Here’s what we cover:⭐ Why the healthspan–lifespan gap exists⭐ The forces inside the healthcare system that work against prevention⭐ Societal pressures that quietly undermine long-term health⭐ The biological wiring that makes healthy choices harder than they should be⭐ Practical steps to help close the gapFor anyone who has seen a parent or grandparent lose their independence too early, or anyone who wants their later decades to be full of movement, purpose, and connection, this conversation matters.“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”If this episode helps reframe what aging can look like, tap like, share your biggest insight in the comments, and send it to someone you want to grow old well with.
Chapters
01:28 Why the Healthspan-Lifespan Gap Exists05:06 Economic and Systemic Barriers to Healthspan10:49 Societal Barriers to Healthspan Extension14:00 Biological Barriers to Healthspan Extension
By Hillary Lin, MDWhen most people imagine living to 100, they don’t picture joy, movement, or independence. They picture decline. Years spent in medical offices. A body that can’t keep up with the life they still want to live.That reaction reveals something important. The real problem isn’t how long we live. It’s how well we live those added years.In this episode, we explore the gap between lifespan (how long you live) and healthspan (how long you live well), and why so many people spend the last decade or two of life surviving instead of thriving. You’ll see why this gap exists, how modern healthcare and society make it worse, and what can be done to change the trajectory.Here’s what we cover:⭐ Why the healthspan–lifespan gap exists⭐ The forces inside the healthcare system that work against prevention⭐ Societal pressures that quietly undermine long-term health⭐ The biological wiring that makes healthy choices harder than they should be⭐ Practical steps to help close the gapFor anyone who has seen a parent or grandparent lose their independence too early, or anyone who wants their later decades to be full of movement, purpose, and connection, this conversation matters.“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”If this episode helps reframe what aging can look like, tap like, share your biggest insight in the comments, and send it to someone you want to grow old well with.
Chapters
01:28 Why the Healthspan-Lifespan Gap Exists05:06 Economic and Systemic Barriers to Healthspan10:49 Societal Barriers to Healthspan Extension14:00 Biological Barriers to Healthspan Extension