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Aging in America
(something to
do with limited variability). Human studies show that the elimination of
diseases improves the quality of life but hasn't added much in the way
of years to life in adulthood. Rather, it appears the elimination of the
leading killers in old age will simply reduce the variety in the ways
that death occurs.
 Gray Panthers Julie Bidou,
80, Allen Stross, 74, and Gloria Baker on their
way to a rally
Subsequently, many scholars and advocates of the elderly are beginning
to fear that these new positive portrayals of old age may be as
pernicious as the established negative ones because they apply
middle-age standards to old people. When people become sick, or simply
experience reliable cognitive changes we see in old age, they are in
danger of feeling that they failed by virtue of having survived into old
age.
We are all going to experience some of the declines associated with
aging. We are all going to get old and we are all going to die. That's
not a threat. The knowledge that our years are limited may be what
makes life precious.
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