Living longer and longer, courtesy of drugs and replacement parts, is today's fool's gold.  The vast majority of us, past 90, are a burden to ourselves and others.  Drawing attention to the few exceptions who are physically capable is deceptive, an opiate for the upper classes. Talking about 100-year-old architects and scientists is just foolish.  Yes, one in 500 centenarians can continue with the sort of work he or she was doing for the preceding 70 years.  That doesn't make such people creative; it just means they're on automatic pilot. Which is fine for them, but nothing for anyone to aspire to.