Davidson Investment Advisors
Benjamin Franklin once quipped, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” While taxes may be unavoidable, recent breakthroughs in science and technology are working hard to extend human health spans, making people healthier and more productive well into their later years of life. Advancements and trends in computing, genetics, and medicine are converging and will help us live longer and healthier lives.
Today, we are beginning to have a much more in-depth scientific understanding of how aging contributes to many fatal risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurological disease. Blue Zones, which are regions around the world where humans are healthy and active well into their 100s, have been extensively studied and have given us a potential blueprint of how humans can increase their health span.1 A wealthy entrepreneur, Bryan Johnson, is taking these advancements to an even more extreme level of experimentation on himself, spending $2 million a year and with a team of 30 doctors tracking every metric possible in how his body functions. As a result of his strict regimen, he is aging at a rate substantially slower than a normal 45-year-old, and his biological age, based on some factors, is equivalent to an individual half his age.2
These efforts to slow down the aging process are not enough for some. Ray Kurzweil, a celebrated inventor and technologist, hypothesizes that by 2030 humans will have discovered how to achieve immortality, not just slowing down the aging process, but reversing it.3 Given the rapid advances we’ve recently seen in science and technology, Kurzweil’s prediction may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed. At the very least, the trend towards helping us all live longer, healthier, and more productive lives is something we all can look forward to—and reminds us once again of the importance of financial planning. Even if you plan to live forever, you cannot afford to outlive your money.
Each January, our Davidson Investment Advisors team takes a look at some of the most intriguing trends unfolding in the new year. More 2024 trends can be found here.
1 Blue Zones
2 How to Be 18 Years Old Again for Only $2 Million a Year
3 Futurist Ray Kurzweil Has an Amazing Track Record for Accurate Predictions
Davidson Investment Advisors is a SEC registered investment advisor. The opinions expressed herein are those of Davidson Investment Advisors and are subject to change. The information contained in this presentation has been taken from trade and statistical services and other sources, which we believe to be reliable. We do not guarantee that this information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such.
This presentation is for informational and illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to meet the objectives or requirements of any specific individual or account. Past performance is not an indicator of future results. Indices provide a general source of information on how various market segments and types of investments have performed in the past. An investor should assess his/her own investment needs based on his/her own financial circumstances and investment objectives.