More than a third of babies born this year will live until the age of
100, experts have predicted. Some 156,000 girls and 135,000 boys can expect a
telegram from the monarch thanks to improved standards of living and medical
advances. But researchers from the Office for National Statistics point out
that living longer isn’t necessarily good news. Newborn children are likely to
be paying off their student loan until 52, their mortgage until 61, and have to
remain in work until 70. And many centenarians may have very lonely existences
if they outlive close friends and family.
Living longer: Children born in 2012 are expected to live until they are 100, older than their parents and grandparents generations
In total 39 per cent of the baby girls born this year are predicted to
live until at least 100 compared to just 10 per cent of 80-year olds, who were
born in 1932. And 32 per cent of the boys born this year will become centenarians
in comparison to just 9.5 per cent of 80 year old men. Women tend to outlive
men regardless of when or where they are born and scientists think this is due
to differences in their biology.
It is partly thought to be down to the female sex hormone oestrogen,
which is known to protect against heart disease. Additionally scientists think
women’s genes make them better programmed to withstand biological aging. Last
year the ONS predicted that a quarter of all children will live to 100. They
said that of the 12.4 million youngsters aged 16 and under, at least 3.3
million will become centenarians. David Sinclair, head of policy and research
at the International Longevity Centre said that in future living until 100 will
be far more routine.
Official recognition: The monarch is expected to be a lot busier in 100 years time sending out telegrams
But he also pointed out that poor planning by governments may mean there
would not be enough places in sheltered housing, for example, to accommodate
everyone. He said: ‘It is of course good news that so many more people are
living longer. but there is a big ‘but’. ‘In many ways today’s centenarians are
unrepresentative. They are people who have escaped cancer, heart attack and
stroke and so they are actually healthier than many people younger than them. Now
that we are getting so much better at keeping people alive, that will no longer
be the case. We will be older, but in worse health, and at high risk of living
alone in unsuitable accommodation.’
Paying off: Debt is expected to take longer to pay off
The future is not bright: The forecast predicts that babies born in 2012 will be retired for 30 years
‘The other problem is that we are very poor at forward planning, as
politicians and individuals. We deal with the problems that are under our
noses, but even problems two or three years away seem quite distant enough to
put off. ‘When you’re talking about forecasts for a time half a century away
and more, I see no evidence that we are putting in place the measures to deal
with it.’ Experts also warn that a
rising life expectancy means the state pension age also has to go up.
It is rising to 66 in 2020 but some financial advisors believe today’s
children will not be able to withdraw their pensions until they are 70.
Source: Daily mail UK
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