[Amezarak]

This is definitely the case.

> Analysis of the mid-Victorian period in the U.K. reveals that life expectancy at age 5 was as good or better than exists today, and the incidence of degenerative disease was 10% of ours.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672390/

Medical advances for adults since 1870 have mostly done little besides hold the line on keeping us alive through the effects of increased pollution, worse diets, and lower physical activity.

This is really, really disturbing when you think about how much of GDP is dedicated to health care.

[glomgril]

I'm shocked that I've never heard this argument before. Very interesting and indeed, disturbing as well.