A recent study by the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health has unveiled notable advancements in the health conditions of older adults in England, indicating a shift in health trajectories compared to earlier generations. This investigation diverges from traditional health assessments that focus primarily on the presence or absence of disease, opting for a novel methodology that evaluates changes in individuals’ functional abilities—encompassing cognitive, locomotor, psychological, and sensory capacities.
Drawing on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, the findings suggest that contemporary older adults exhibit superior physical and mental functionality compared to their predecessors at equivalent ages. John Beard, MBBS, PhD, Irene Diamond, Professor of Aging in Health Policy and Management at the Butler Columbia Aging Center and the study’s lead author, highlighted the significance of these improvements. He illustrated this by comparing the capacities of individuals from different birth decades, noting that a person born in 1950 demonstrates similar functional abilities to someone a decade their junior from an earlier generation, with those born in the 1940s showing better overall functioning than those from the 1930s or 1920s. Beard remarked on the substantial nature of these enhancements, especially when comparing cohorts from the mid-twentieth century to those born earlier.
Parallel research conducted with the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) mirrored these findings. However, the results from the Chinese study were somewhat constrained by a shorter observational period than those of the English study.
Beard attributes these generational improvements in health to several key factors, including enhancements in education, nutrition, and sanitation throughout the twentieth century, alongside strides in medical technology such as joint replacements and advanced treatments for chronic diseases. However, the researchers advise caution in generalising these observations universally, as the patterns noted may not be consistent across different demographics or geographic regions, such as the United States.
According to Beard, the scale of these health improvements, particularly among those born post-World War Two, was unexpected. He also cautioned that these positive trends might not necessarily persist into the future, particularly with rising health issues like obesity, which could potentially reverse these gains. Additionally, the benefits observed were likely more pronounced among more advantaged groups.
Despite these potential limitations, the overall trends are robust and suggest a redefinition of age-related expectations, hinting that ’70 may be the new 60 for many. The study has been acclaimed by ageing experts like Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois, who commended the research for demonstrating that intrinsic capacity—the aspects of health that matter most as people age—is modifiable. Olshansky praised the study for providing a hopeful outlook on how medical science can continue to enhance the quality of life for ageing populations, reinforcing the potential for ongoing improvements in intrinsic capacity and overall health outcomes.
More information: John Beard et al, Cohort trends in intrinsic capacity in England and China, Nature Aging. DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00741-w
Journal information: Nature Aging Provided by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health
