# Lifespan

Lifespan is the total length of time an organism lives, from birth to death, usually expressed in years for humans. At the population level, it is summarized by life expectancy, at birth or at a given age. Maximum lifespan is the longest documented age reached within a species; for humans, that is around 122 years. Your lifespan is influenced by genetics, environment, behavior, and access to medical care. And it is a classic outcome in longevity research.

## Sources

- Kenyon C, Chang J, Gensch E, Rudner A, Tabtiang R. (1993). A C. elegans mutant that lives twice as long as wild type. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/366461a0

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/lifespan · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_