A study published today in the Lancet suggests that if the increases in life expectancy seen over the last 200 years continue babies born since 2000 in North America, Japan and much of Europe are likely to reach 100.

“A key question is: are increases in life expectancy accompanied by a concurrent postponement of functional limitations and disability?” write Kaare Christensen, of the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, and colleagues. “The answer is still open, but research suggests that ageing processes are modifiable and that people are living longer without severe disability.”

Christensen says that data from 30 developed countries shows no “looming limit” to lifespan (BBC). Of course, as has often been pointed out, living longer means people are going to have to work longer to fund their extended retirements.

“I guess it’s good news for individuals and a challenge for societies,” says Christensen (ABC News). “If you’re going to retire when you are 60 or 65, it looks quite different when your life expectancy is 75 or 80 than when it’s 100.”

Meanwhile, in Science, researchers have shown that stopping production of a particular protein in mice increased life span and reduced age-related diseases. In AFP’s words: Scientists find path to fountain of youth.

“We are suddenly much closer to treatments for aging than we thought,” David Gems of UCL told the wire service.