Survey data suggest only about a third of Americans would want to live forever if they could—and, interestingly, that percentage shrinks with age. Almost half of adults under 30 said they want immortality, while just a quarter of those older than 65 do.

One possible reason? Older age tends to bring with it a range of health problems, including chronic diseases that can seriously compromise quality of life. But not if some experts get their way.

Increasingly, researchers and scientists are focusing on "healthspan"—the length of time someone lives free of serious medical issues—as a better measure of longevity than lifespan alone. In the U.S., projected lifespan is 77.5 years, according to a new estimate for 2022. But projected healthspan is only about 66 years, meaning lots of people spend the last decades of their lives in poor health. As I learned for a new story, a flurry of drug development and public-health campaigns are working to close that gap as much as possible.

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