Heterogeneity in healthy aging.

TitleHeterogeneity in healthy aging.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsLowsky, DJ, S Olshansky, J, Bhattacharya, J, Goldman, DP
JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Volume69
Issue6
Pagination640-9
Date Published2014 Jun
ISSN Number1758-535X
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Population Surveillance, Quality of Life, Retrospective Studies, United States
Abstract

For a surprisingly large segment of the older population, chronological age is not a relevant marker for understanding, measuring, or experiencing healthy aging. Using the 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the 2004 Health and Retirement Study to examine the proportion of Americans exhibiting five markers of health and the variation in health-related quality of life across each of eight age groups, we find that a significant proportion of older Americans is healthy within every age group beginning at age 51, including among those aged 85+. For example, 48% of those aged 51-54 and 28% of those aged 85+ have excellent or very good self-reported health status; similarly, 89% of those aged 51-54 and 56% of those aged 85+ report no health-based limitations in work or housework. Also, health-related quality of life ranges widely within every age group, yet there is only a comparatively small variation in median quality of life across age groups, suggesting that older Americans today may be experiencing substantially different age-health trajectories than their predecessors. Patterns are similar for medical expenditures. Several policy implications are explored.

URLhttp://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/11/13/gerona.glt162.abstract
DOI10.1093/gerona/glt162
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24249734?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Healthy Aging/Quality of Life/Compression of Morbidity

Endnote ID

999999

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Citation Key8033
PubMed ID24249734
PubMed Central IDPMC4022100
Grant ListP30AG024968 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States