At age 65, the average world population begins to develop a large number of ailments related to old age.
These symptoms, however, appear earlier in some people than in others.
Health problems such as hearing loss, heart attacks, injuries from falls and neuro-degenerative diseases can manifest at very different ages, depending on where the person lives.
The difference between those who “age well” and those who “age early” can be up to three decades or more.
So, for example, a 45-year-old in Papua New Guinea feels as old as someone 75 years old in France or Singapore.
These are some of the conclusions of a study published in The Lancet, in which a group of scientists analyzed health data from 195 countries.
The years do not come alone
The study analyzed aging from the point of view of well – being , and not from longevity.
The research focused on the growing burden of diseases related to increasing age.
“These disparate findings show that a longer life expectancy at older ages can be an opportunity or a threat to the general welfare of populations, depending on the health problems related to aging that the population experiences, regardless of chronological age” , says Dr. Angela Y. Chang, lead author of the study.
The researchers identified 92 ailments, which lead to irreversible deterioration in physical and mental health. The most common are cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
The calculations are adjusted to the socio-demographic indexes (SDI, for its acronym in English), a measure that, in a general way, shows the development of each country.
The SDI is based on indicators such as average income, educational attainment and the total fertility rate. But while developing countries with lower SDI have a shorter life expectancy, they also feel the impact of old age much earlier.
How does your country compare?
The analysis showed that age-related diseases constituted more than half of all health problems for adults worldwide.
“Age-related health problems can lead to early retirement, a smaller workforce and higher health spending , “ says Chang.
“Government leaders and other stakeholders who influence health systems must take into account when people begin to suffer the negative effects of aging.”
Scientists are now focusing their attention on deciphering the factors that can delay the symptoms of aging.
These factors could be from physical activity and smoking cessation , to a better organization of the health system.
Understanding this would be crucial to face the challenges of dealing with the aging of the population.
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