The advancements in technology continue to make the future a more and more amazing place in terms of our health. It’s hard to know just what science will accomplish next, but earlier this year, researchers were able to create the tiniest human liver ever using a 3D printer.

Printing Organs

Science is constantly searching for new ways to help us improve our health and increase our lifespan, and Organovo in San Diego, California has taken a big step in that path. Utilizing a 3D printer that builds organs from cells, the company produced a human liver that measured 4 millimeters across and ½ millimeters deep.

The intended purpose of the liver is to act as a predictor of how toxic drugs and other substances will affect the organ. Because the structure and functions of the liver are so realistic, it provides the ideal environment for such experiments.

Not only does the 3D-printed liver produce albumin, the liver protein, but it also creates cholesterol and produces detoxification enzymes. Organovo is researching ways to create a branch of blood vessels within the organ in order to sustain and nourish it, but that has yet to be done.

Longer Lifespans Mean Higher Costs 

As technology makes huge strides in the medical and health fields, we can expect that it won’t be long before our life spans are lengthened by quite a bit, and preparing for those extra years is something to keep in mind. Ironically, the longer we live, the more likely we are to become frail and need some form of long term care during our lives, whether it is simply custodial care or medical care for a condition like a stroke, fractured bones, or dementia.

The future of long term care seems to be changing every day, and this type of care is usually quite expensive and requires a great deal of planning ahead if you expect to afford it without any stress attached. The truth is, most people ignore the reality that one day, they, too, will be old and frail and might need care.

Plan for Your Health

By ignoring this reality, we put ourselves at risk of massive financial devastation or extreme emotional stress and exhaustion, sometimes both. Rather than be shocked by the cost of care when the time comes, why not take some time and put some effort into avoiding that shock in the future? It would make things easier on ourselves and on our loved ones, who are often involved in the process, as well, and spend their time and money, too.

If you haven’t considered the risk of long term care as part of your retirement plans, you are missing out on a great opportunity to protect your assets. According to reports, the high cost of care continues to increase annually and without adequate planning, most of us will be faced with some difficult decisions during retirement. Read more about the risk of long term care or find out which companies provide the top policies by requesting a free comparison today.