In 1850, the average 80 year old lived to be 86 years old. In 2011, the average 80 year old lived to be 89 years old. [1] http://ourworldindata.org/roser/pres

In 1850, the average 80 year old lived to be 86 years old. In 2011, the average 80 year old lived to be 89 years old. [1] http://ourworldindata.org/roser/presentation/online/ImprovingHealthAroundTheWorld/ImprovingHealthAroundTheWorld.html#/Life-Expectancy-by-Age http://ourworldindata.org/roser/presentation/online/Improvin... (press the right arrow key for the graph to pop up) [2] http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005140.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005140.html Modern medicine has mostly benefited the young, not the old. The last 150 years of little progress makes me skeptical of claims about future life extension, though of course I'd love to be mistaken.