Premature Death at 40, or Super Achiever at 80, to Super Ager at 120

The 20:80:120-year age milestones in a healthy human lifespan are the focus of this author's 80th article, inspired by the likes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (90) and marathon runner Fauja Singh (114).

- DR P.S. VENKATESH RAO

In sharp contrast to the recent premature deaths around the age of 40 of Shefali Jariwala and many others, Fauja Singh, born in 1911 in Jalandhar, was killed by a speeding car on 14 July 2025, at the age of 114 years, and may have completed a full life term of 120 years.

Jeanne Calment, a French woman born on February 21, 1875, died on August 4, 1997, at the age of 122 years. Kane Tanaka (Japan) and Sarah Knauss (US) have lived over 119 years, and numerous documented and undocumented records and reports exist of super agers who lived or are alive beyond 114 years of age.

A Super Ager is over 80 years old, maintains sharp memories, strong physical capabilities, and exhibits cognitive function comparable to an average middle-aged person.

HUMAN LIFE SPAN SEGMENTS: Human lifespan is traditionally segmented as infancy-childhood-adolescence (teenager) till 19 years, working adult, 20 to 65 years, and senior citizen beyond 65 years. The Chhandogya Upanishad states 116 years as normal human life and splits it into three stages (ashramas) of 24 years of learning and growth (Brahmacharya), 44 years of worldly pursuits and responsibilities (Garhasthya), and 48 years of reflection and spiritual pursuits (Vanaprastha).

The recent Australian Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, an amendment to the Online Safety Act 2021, prevents children under 16 from creating social media accounts. The minimum driving age in India is 16 years for motorcycles with engine capacities not exceeding 50cc, 18 years for motor vehicles other than transport vehicles, and 20 years for transport vehicles.