A recent study from the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health highlights major health improvements among older adults in England compared to those from earlier generations. Instead of merely focusing on the presence or absence of diseases, this research, published in Nature Aging, adopts a fresh perspective by analyzing how individuals function—looking at their cognitive, physical, psychological, and sensory abilities.
According to data collected from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, today’s older adults exhibit superior physical and mental functioning than those of past generations at similar ages.
“The extent of these enhancements is remarkable,” stated John Beard, MBBS, PhD, the Irene Diamond Professor of Aging in Health Policy and Management at the Butler Columbia Aging Center of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the study’s lead author. For instance, a 68-year-old born in 1950 demonstrates capabilities similar to those of a 62-year-old born ten years earlier, and individuals born in 1940 show better functioning than those born in 1930 or 1920. Beard observed, “Had we compared someone born in 1950 with someone born in 1920, the improvements would likely have been even more impressive.”
Beard and his team conducted similar evaluations in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). They noticed comparable trends, although the shorter follow-up period in the Chinese study limited its findings compared to those of the English study.
Beard suggests that enhancements in education, nutrition, and sanitation throughout the twentieth century have likely played a crucial role. Furthermore, advancements in medical care—like joint replacements and improved management of chronic illnesses—seem to have contributed as well. However, the researchers warn that their findings are confined to a specific timeframe and location, and such trends may not be applicable to the U.S. or the entire population.
Beard expressed surprise at the magnitude of the improvements, especially when contrasting those born post-World War II with earlier generations. He noted, “Yet, we cannot assume that these advancements will persist; issues such as the rise of obesity may reverse these trends. It is also probable that more privileged groups may have realized greater gains. Nonetheless, the evidence is compelling and implies that, for many individuals, turning 70 might indeed resemble being 60.”
Aging specialist Jay Olshansky from the University of Illinois commended the study, commenting, “This impactful article demonstrates that intrinsic capacity—what truly counts as people age—is prone to modification. With this information, it becomes evident that medical advancements can enhance intrinsic capacity, offering an optimistic perspective for the future.”
The study co-authors include Katja Hanewald and Yafei Si from UNSW Business School, Sydney, Australia; members from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Aging Research (CEPAR), Australia; Jotheeswaran Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan from the World Health Organization, Geneva; and Dario Moreno-Agostino from UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, and ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College London.
This research received support from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR, project CE170100005) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW); from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London [ES/S012567/1]; and from China’s National Social Science Foundation (23AZD091). Additional funding was provided by the National Institute on Aging (R01 AG030153, RC2 AG036619, R03 AG043052).
