By 2026, the so-called "Silver Economy" is increasingly viewed not as a growth engine, but as a primary strain on global fiscal stability. Critics argue that the heavy investor focus on biotechnology giants like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk reflects a disturbing dependency on high-cost, lifelong pharmaceutical interventions for metabolic and cognitive decline, rather than sustainable public health. While MedTech firms like Intuitive Surgical and Stryker report high demand, this "surge" is often a symptom of an aging population trapped in a cycle of invasive procedures and orthopedic maintenance that places an immense toll on healthcare budgets.
The expansion of specialized REITs like Welltower and the rise of AI-driven home monitoring are seen by skeptics as the commodification of isolation, prioritizing the "infrastructure" of aging over genuine social integration. Far from a "longevity dividend," the rapid growth of the over-65 demographic represents a period of unprecedented economic pressure, where defensive stability is eclipsed by the skyrocketing costs of maintaining functional independence in a fragmented, tech-dependent society.
