Tonight at 10 p.m. E.D.T., ABC will broadcast a Barbara Walters special about longevity — or, really, super-longevity — that tries to sort out the many medical, social, and economic ramifications. I was interviewed for the show and apparently I appear toward the end of the hour.
Most of the questions I was asked concerned the consequences, unintended and otherwise, of the ongoing longevity boom. Most of my answers were what I would call informed speculation, since I don’t think anyone will live to 150 in my lifetime.
My research reading included papers about longevity and life-cycle savings, the voting impact of a larger elderly demographic, and the ability of elderly people to maintain expert performance. If none of that strikes you as very sexy — well, we talked bout the potential changes in elderly sex markets as well.
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. You can also watch it on 
I’d only want to live to 150 if my wife were there with me. Otherwise I’d rather be dead and rockin’ out in my old 30 year old body in Heaven.
I read that one futurist is working very hard to stay healthy, for he believes that if he can last until a certain point in the future, there will be medical advances that will enable thim to live for, say, 150 years…and by that time, medical science will have advanced so far that he could virtually live forever.
I finally figured out how long I want to live. I would like to be there every day of my son’s life…and not a day longer.
The article that AaronS mentions is here: http://www.wired.com/medtech/drugs/magazine/16-04/ff_kurzweil
It’s a fairly mind blowing concept. As long as we’ve got decent surf and compound interest, why stop?
“If none of that strikes you as very sexy – well, we talked bout the potential changes in elderly sex markets as well.”
Did Barbara Walters blush when this came up?
Hey, I just heard that Hillary has dropped out of the race, conceding the dem nom. to Obama.
Sorry for being off topic, but not off color.
Oh by the way, APRIL FOOL!
Aaron, that sounds like a great plan, but one day you may have grandchildren.
Dubner, I can’t think of anything less sexy that elderly people having sex.
I’m sure this will be addressed in the program, but its not financially possible to work for 40 years and then live off your savings for next 85 years. Would you really want to live until 150 if you couldn’t retire until age 100?
isn’t there an overlap (no pun intended) between the ability of elderly people to maintain expert performance and elderly sex markets?