Podcast: We're living longer. Are we getting sicker? The 'healthspan' v lifespan debate

By Cameron English and ChuckDinerstein — Aug 12, 2026

We're living longer than ever thanks to dramatic improvements in modern medicine, but are we healthy enough to enjoy those extra golden years? In the wake of the MAHA movement, a recent study claims there's a growing gap between our lifespan and "healthspan," arguing that greater emphasis on preventative care could reduce late-life morbidity. Let's take a closer look at the results.

Image by ACSH using AI

Join us on the Science Dispatch podcast as we discuss:

Mind the Gap: The growing divide between lifespan and good health

Over the past three decades, global advances in medicine have significantly extended human lifespan, but gains in healthy living have failed to keep pace. This imbalance has created a widening "morbidity gap," where we spend over a decade in poor health. Will a shift in focus for healthcare systems make a difference?

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Cameron English

Executive Vice President

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project.