I like the sound of this.....I think
While it's still likely years in the future, it looks like another important target for medical science is emerging. If this supplementation, and/or stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor really works, we would see a huge increase in both the average life expectancy AND the average productive lifespan of the human body. The article only scratches the surface of what will be gained by controlling "arterial placque disease". The authors mention the decrease in the rate of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction (brain attack and heart attack), but when you take into account the virtual elimination of peripheral vascular disease (which leads diabetics to lose fingers, toes, legs, etc.) and renal failure in diabetics (both side effects brought on because diabetics, with their increased circulation of unbound insulin, are much more likely to develop these blockages, and to do so more quickly than non-diabetics), we'll see a huge increase in both lifespan and quality of life for a huge number of people.
Hmmmmm......what'll we do when it becomes reasonable to expect to be able to work and play actively into one's 70's or 80's? How will our society handle the expected huge increase in the number "welfare retirees" (people who retire dependent soley upon Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid) if we don't address our increased functional lifespan, "workspan", and period of Social Security entitlement. For a wide variety of reasons, we're already seeing problems with the Social Security system that are related to increased life expectancy. If, as individuals, we don't start saving more and taking care of our own families, the problems are going to increase exponentially, never mind the policy/law changes that are needed.
Leave it to me to find the darker side of an amazing potential medical breakthrough.
While it's still likely years in the future, it looks like another important target for medical science is emerging. If this supplementation, and/or stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor really works, we would see a huge increase in both the average life expectancy AND the average productive lifespan of the human body. The article only scratches the surface of what will be gained by controlling "arterial placque disease". The authors mention the decrease in the rate of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction (brain attack and heart attack), but when you take into account the virtual elimination of peripheral vascular disease (which leads diabetics to lose fingers, toes, legs, etc.) and renal failure in diabetics (both side effects brought on because diabetics, with their increased circulation of unbound insulin, are much more likely to develop these blockages, and to do so more quickly than non-diabetics), we'll see a huge increase in both lifespan and quality of life for a huge number of people.
Hmmmmm......what'll we do when it becomes reasonable to expect to be able to work and play actively into one's 70's or 80's? How will our society handle the expected huge increase in the number "welfare retirees" (people who retire dependent soley upon Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid) if we don't address our increased functional lifespan, "workspan", and period of Social Security entitlement. For a wide variety of reasons, we're already seeing problems with the Social Security system that are related to increased life expectancy. If, as individuals, we don't start saving more and taking care of our own families, the problems are going to increase exponentially, never mind the policy/law changes that are needed.
Leave it to me to find the darker side of an amazing potential medical breakthrough.
posted by Paul at 1/09/2005 09:23:00 AM
1 Comments:
I don't know the details of any of this stuff, but I've heard about it. Keep me posted on the "Arterial Draino", Paul. The Heffer eats entirely too much beef.
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