The Hidden Cost of Our Rising Lifespans

Are you prepared to live past age 115?

A 2016 study published in the leading journal Nature claimed that we have a "maximum limit" on our lifespan...

Researchers analyzed data from around the world and found that survival declined after age 100. Then, using this demographic data, they pinned 115 years as the natural limit for human aging.

As they point out, no one has beaten the record of the world's longest-living person since Jeanne Calment died at age 122 in 1997. (As we write, the oldest living person is exactly 115.)

Of course, this isn't the first time scientists have made a prediction that humans can't live longer than a certain age...

In 1928, a researcher used U.S. life-table data to predict that humans around the world could only have a life expectancy of up to 64.75 years... At the time, U.S. life expectancy was about 57 years. But he didn't realize that this upper limit had already been surpassed – in New Zealand, women already had a life expectancy of about 66 years of age.

Then in 1990... another researcher asserted that maximum life expectancy shouldn't exceed 85. Japanese women passed this level in 1996.

In fact, according to a research article in Science magazine, the typical maximum life-expectancy prediction has been broken, on average, five years after publication.

Today, the fastest-growing segment of the population in developing countries is folks aged 85 or older, according to the National Institutes of Health. Experts project this segment will grow more than 350% between 2010 and 2050.

And according to the National Institute on Aging, the number of people who make it past the age of 100 will keep increasing. It expects this number to rise by more than 1,000% from today through 2050.

That's because of advancements in science. Take Valter Longo, a University of Southern California professor of gerontology (the study of aging). He has already upped the lifespans of yeast and mice to the human equivalent of 800 and 150 years, respectively.

As medical advancements continue, that number could grow even more... even faster. Already, life expectancy is increasing by an average of three months every single year.

It's clear that improvements in the field of medicine already help us live longer, healthier lives than in decades past. That's great news in most ways.

But living longer also presents a hidden problem...

You see, as you live longer, it becomes more important to preserve your nest egg... and make sure you're prepared to make it to 100... 120... or older.

A longer life means you may need your money to last 40 to 50 years after you've retired, not just a couple of decades.

But in today's world, that's getting more difficult...

Social Security is bankrupt. In 2004, the benefits paid out began exceeding the tax revenues brought in. Worse, no actual assets support Social Security. So the government must use current cash flow to fund future liability. Imagine telling your doctor you want health care today, but you'll pay him in 20 years.

The website for the Congressional Budget Office (essentially the government's accountants) will show you page after page of tables and graphs explaining how this will all work out OK.

But the bottom line is this: In 2018, Social Security had to use its trust fund to pay benefits – for the first time since 1982. By 2035, Social Security's fund will be depleted. If you're counting on Social Security to last for the rest of your life, your retirement future is hanging in the balance.

We're not the only ones sharing this dire warning, either...

My good friend Porter Stansberry is one of the brightest and most interesting people I've ever met. He's a brilliant analyst with a nearly unrivaled understanding of how markets, history, and finance intersect.

He's also never afraid to give his honest recommendations – regardless of how controversial they might seem at the time.

Next week, Porter will go on camera to explain why depending on the government for your future could be a costly mistake – and exactly what you should do instead.

He'll walk you through...

• Why Social Security is about to go broke and what it means for your money...

• The No. 1 most dangerous investment he says you must sell immediately...

• And the one strategy he's personally using right now to prepare. Porter says if you're not using it, you shouldn't have any money in the markets.

Click here to reserve your spot for this free event on June 5.

Now, let's get into this week's Q&A... And as always, keep sending your comments, questions, and topic suggestions to feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. My team and I read every e-mail.

Surgery for Prostate Cancer 

Q: You didn't mention your thoughts on surgery as a way to treat prostate cancer. – S.F.

A: Thanks for your comment, S.F. It depends on the type of prostate cancer you have...

Most research has shown that surgical intervention is unnecessary for slow-growing prostate cancers, yet the medical establishment continues to line folks up for invasive surgery.

Other treatments include proton-beam therapy, which you can now find at many hospitals around the U.S. This is a radiation process that successfully treats many patients' cancer while causing few side effects.

Also, as I'm sure you're aware... physical surgery has risks, drug therapy has risks, and radiation (X-ray and proton beam) has risks. Given the history of overcalling and overcutting, if you have the option of a second opinion, ask another doctor to confirm whether you need surgery at all. If you do need that type of aggressive treatment, I'd look into the proton-beam therapies as the least harmful option.

Treating Tinnitus

Q: Any information on tinnitus remedies that actually work? I've suffered from tinnitus due to noise exposure during my time in the Air Force in the '70s and '80s. I enjoy reading your content. – S.E.

A: Thanks for your question, S.E. We're happy to hear you're enjoying Health & Wealth Bulletin.

For readers who aren't familiar with it, tinnitus is that ringing in your ears with no apparent external cause. Most of us have experienced ringing in our ears before, but some people hear it constantly. Around 50 million Americans experience tinnitus.

Unfortunately, medical science hasn't found a definitive cure for tinnitus. But some research suggests that magnesium can help relieve moderate to severe cases. And you can increase your magnesium intake in a risk-free way by eating foods that are good for you anyway.

A healthy intake of magnesium is about 320 milligrams ("mg") a day for women, while men need about 420 mg. Three foods to help you increase your magnesium intake are nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables.

For example, a handful of almonds has 76 mg of magnesium, a quarter of a cup of pumpkin seeds has 190 mg, and a cup of cooked spinach has 157 mg. Green vegetables are green because of chlorophyll... And in the center of the chlorophyll molecule sits magnesium.

Around 90% of tinnitus cases are due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds – like you experienced during your service, S.E.

My advice to readers is to reduce your risk of developing tinnitus by keeping the volume down in your headphones and wearing protective ear gear, like earplugs, when you're in a location with extremely loud noises. And if, like S.E., you already have tinnitus... eat your  nuts, seeds, and greens.

What We're Reading...

• Did you miss it? Humans will still be needed in the era of AI.

• Something different: It's officially the end of free bags at Southwest Airlines.

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
May 30, 2025