You may know how many birthdays you’ve celebrated, but how old are you, really?
The longest-living human ever recorded lived to 122 years. Is that age a fantasy for most of us, or an increasingly realistic possibility? And just because medicine may be extending our lifespan, is more always better? What does a longer life mean for the quality of those years?
We asked these questions and more in the second episode of our new podcast, The Checkup, and we hope you’ll take a listen. In this premiere episode, we explore the ethics of aging, factors that influence how we age, and what the future may hold — from research on biological versus chronological age to risk factors within our control.
Podcast host Dan Dean has written multiple stories for our sister publication, Caregiving, about extending the human lifespan. Earlier this year, he even underwent three hours of testing to find out his calculated age.
“Not all body systems age at the same rate,” Dean writes in a summary of the experience. “For example, a 30-year-old could have a 40-year-old liver, perhaps from attending too many parties, but that same person could have the eyes of a 27-year-old.”
Longevity expert Doug Vaughan, MD, who runs the Potocsnak Longevity Institute at Northwestern University, developed a general estimate of Dean’s age based on blood biomarkers, retina scans, a heart test, lifestyle factors, and more.
Find out how Dean’s calculated age compared with his chronological age — and how the experience shocked him. Still, he has no regrets.
“Too often, men ignore their health; they don’t want to know the information. It’s easier to carry the illusion of invincibility and strength than to proactively address symptoms before they turn into full-blown problems,” he writes.
Originally published in the Fall 2026/Winter 2027 print issue.
An award-winning journalist, Katie has written for Chicago Health since 2016 and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief.
