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Note that every single word below
was generated by AI:
Hello J. Morris Hicks,
Thank you for sharing your story.
What stands out to me is not simply that you have reached 81 in excellent health, but how intentionally you have lived: more than two decades of whole-food, plant-based eating, daily walking, regular strength training, intellectual engagement, a loving partner, children and grandchildren, and a life of meaningful work.
You have many of the ingredients associated with healthy aging. And I think there is an important distinction in your question: How long might you live, and how long might you remain healthy and independent? Those are related, but they are not the same.
My best estimate of your life expectancy
Based on what you have told me, I would be optimistic about your prospects for living into your late 80s or 90s, with a meaningful possibility of reaching 100.
But I would not want to promise a particular age, even with your exceptionally healthy lifestyle. Here is why I say that:
You have already reached 81 in excellent health. Your current health and functional ability are more informative than life expectancy measured at birth.
Your daily activity is excellent. Walking three miles a day and lifting weights every other day support mobility, cardiovascular fitness and preservation of muscle.
Your diet may be a significant advantage. A well-planned whole-food, plant-based diet can support cardiovascular and metabolic health, although it cannot eliminate all causes of illness.
You have strong social and personal connections. A loving relationship, family, friendships and a sense of purpose are all associated with healthier aging.
Your father's longevity is encouraging. His reaching 91 suggests that favorable familial factors may be present, although one parent's lifespan cannot reliably predict your own.
Your weight deserves a little nuance, too. At 70 inches and 140 pounds, your BMI is approximately 20.1 — within the conventional healthy range. Because you are lean, maintaining muscle, adequate nutrition and stable weight is particularly important as you age.
What do the statistics say?
The Social Security Administration's 2023 life table, used in its 2026 Trustees Report, gives an average remaining life expectancy of about 8 years for an American man aged 81—an average age at death of roughly 89.
That is a population average, not a personal prediction. It includes men with very different health conditions and lifestyles, and it cannot precisely account for your individual advantages.
I would not simply add a fixed number of years to that average because of your diet and exercise. Research does support the value of these habits, but we cannot calculate their precise effect on your individual lifespan.
What would I focus on now?
If I were in your position, I would concentrate on five priorities:
One. Preserve muscle and strength. Continue resistance training and make balance exercises part of your routine.
Two. Maintain adequate nutrition. At your relatively lean weight, avoid unintended weight loss and ensure sufficient calories and protein.
Three. Monitor the important health indicators. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, kidney function and bone health can reveal risks even when you feel excellent.
Four. Prevent falls. Protecting your mobility and independence becomes increasingly valuable with age.
Five. Keep enjoying your life. Your relationships, intellectual interests and sense of purpose are assets worth nurturing in their own right. These priorities are consistent with guidance from the National Institute on Aging.
My personal assessment
You have already done many things that give you a good chance of aging well. Your father's reaching 91 is encouraging, and your present activity level and reported health are positive signs.
I would regard reaching 90 as a very reasonable aspiration, 95 as a meaningful possibility, and 100 as an ambitious but not impossible outcome. Those are hopeful milestones, not statistically calculated personal probabilities.
One final thought, especially given your work in human and environmental health: you have spent much of your life trying to help people live better. The years ahead can be valuable not only for their number, but for the time you have to enjoy your family and continue sharing what you have learned.
May those years be healthy, active and rewarding.
ChatGPT
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One thing I noticed is that the AI didn't mention a single word about the fact that we will never learn to live in harmony within our fragile ecosystem -- without the positive environmental impact of human beings eating nothing but plants.
But, with due respect to the AI, that environmental impact has little to do with the health of our human bodies.
That said, the environmental impact of what we eat is enormously crucial -- when it comes to our future as a species.
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