If you’re concerned about approaching a significant birthday milestone, like turning 25, 30, or 40, here’s some reassuring news for you. Scientists have conducted a study, analyzing data from 75,000 people in the Netherlands who passed away in the 30 years leading up to 2017. The study aimed to determine the maximum age a person can live, focusing on individual lifespans rather than overall life expectancy.

The researchers found that a person’s maximum lifespan tends to plateau in their nineties, suggesting a likelihood that it won’t extend beyond 115 years. However, this doesn’t mean life necessarily ends at that point. Women, on average, were estimated to have a slightly longer maximum lifespan of 115.7 years, while men were estimated to reach a maximum age of 114.1 years.

Professor John Einmahl, one of the scientists involved in the study, emphasized that while average life expectancy has increased, the maximum ceiling for the very oldest individuals hasn’t changed in the last thirty years. He noted that there seems to be a kind of limit or wall.

Despite these findings, there have been exceptional cases of individuals surpassing these suggested maximum lifespans. The oldest verified man, Jiroemon Kimura from Japan, lived to be 116 years old, and French nun Sister André passed away at the age of 118. Maria Branyas Morera, born in 1907 and currently recognized as the oldest living person at 115, attributes her longevity to an orderly and socially pleasant life without excesses.

So, while the study suggests a general trend, there are always exceptions, and individuals can defy these estimates, living longer and enjoying a fulfilling life.