Gout, unlike any other disease, kills more rich men than poor, more wise men than simple. Great kings, emperors, generals, admirals and philosophers have all died of gout.
Thomas SydenhamRead
The last thing you ever want to do is extend the period of frailty and disability and make people unhealthy for a longer time period. So lifespan extension in and of itself should not be the goal of medicine, nor should it be the goal of public health, nor should it be the goal of aging science.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Extending life should focus on improving health quality rather than just longevity.
S. Jay Olshansky emphasizes that the goal of medicine and public health should not merely be to prolong life but to ensure that the additional years are not spent in frailty or illness. He argues for a focus on enhancing the quality of life and well-being during the years one lives, rather than simply extending life expectancy at the cost of health.
Themes
HealthLongevityQuality Of LifeMedicinePublic Health
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about healthcare policies, you might use this quote to advocate for a focus on health quality rather than just extending life.
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