Hyper-Longevity, A Late-Modern Paradigm for Understanding Longevity, Ageing and their Complexities in Western Developed Globalised Countries

Title:Hyper-Longevity, A Late-Modern Paradigm for Understanding Longevity, Ageing and their Complexities in Western Developed Globalised Countries

Volume: 20 Issue: 38

Author(s): Roberto Alzetta, Alfredo Cesario and Massimo Fini

Affiliation:

Keywords: Longevity, hyper-longevity, ageing, holism, late-modern societies, post-modernism, baby boomers, systems medicines.

Abstract: If longevity is a biological and demographic indicator to determine human lifetime extension, hyper-longevity notion can represent a heuristic tool to better disentangle the complex bio-psycho-social implications of ageing and elderly in Western developed globalised countries. Departing from the assumption of a holistic approach to human condition understanding, it is possible to reveal the grounds and patterns of a multilayered and multidimensional structuring of longevity and ageing in our societies that would lead to a form of hyper-longevity. Socio-cultural processes, underlying hyper-longevity notion, rise the question of transition from modern/ latemodern societies to post-modern ones and it offers room for a cultural analysis of concepts, such as space time compression, digital capitalism, knowledge and mass information society. These are relevant ideas that can contribute to reshape and rethink the boundaries and traits of ageing experience in 21^st century societies. To better catch the point emerging social category of Baby Boomers is presented and used to provide a concrete context related example on how hyper-longevity can better explain complex social evidences in many cultural respects and social domains. As a conclusive step some preliminary reflections, largely centered on the relation between Baby Boomers, hyper-longevity and bio-medical sciences are presented and discussed to provide a starting point for further future analyses within a trans and inter-disciplinary framework.

Cite this article as:

Alzetta Roberto, Cesario Alfredo and Fini Massimo, Hyper-Longevity, A Late-Modern Paradigm for Understanding Longevity, Ageing and their Complexities in Western Developed Globalised Countries, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (38) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140314111443