> If we are still far from the limit to the human life-span, then the largest survival gains should be recorded among the oldest people.

Trends in outliers cannot be used to extrapolate trends in mean, unless for very small populations (such that outliers are unreliable).

The article just seems to be an opinion piece to explain away falling improvements in average life-expectancy rather than tackle rising inequality.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2016/04/for-life-expe...

Being poor in the United States is so hazardous to your health, a new study shows, that the average life expectancy of the lowest-income classes in America is now equal to that in Sudan or Pakistan.