Significance Aging is an evolutionary paradox. Traditionally, it is assumed as a maladaptive and nonprogrammed process of physical deterioration. Hypotheses of programmed aging are currently regarded as unfeasible since the evolutionary benefits of senescence are unclear. Here, we develop a model indicating that limiting lifespan is beneficial to control epidemics, providing a possible explanation for species lifespan setpoint selection and the absence of biologically immortal mutants. Our study suggests a unifying hypothesis in which lifespan is selected to prevent and limit outbreaks of chronic infectious diseases.