Researchers in Canada tracked almost 7,000 people in their middle years and beyond for around three years to see what elements are associated with happiness in later life. The findings highlight the significance of a positive, asset-based perspective on aging and older persons, instead of a deficit-based one. Researchers found that people who met certain criteria, such as being women, married, generally active, and not obese, as well as never having smoked, having higher incomes, and not suffering from insomnia, heart disease, or arthritis, had the best chances of maintaining excellent health throughout the study period.
Participants were chosen because of their outstanding health at the outset of the study’s estimated three-year duration. Possessing appropriate social support as well as high levels of pleasure and life satisfaction were also considered, as were not having memory issues or chronic crippling pain, being free of any significant mental disease, and not having physical limitations that impede daily activities.
Aging is a complex blending of biological, behavioral, environmental and social changes. However, some studies have often overlooked the influence of the dynamic interplay of individual and environmental factors . As noted above, studies on successful aging focus primarily on the physiological aspects of aging, often neglect various structural issues
Depending on how old respondents were when the survey began, there was a wide range in the proportion reporting effective aging. People who participated in the research between the ages of 55 and 64 and were in great health during the whole study period. About half of individuals aged 80 and above were still in pristine health. It is surprising, say the researchers, that half of the participants aged 80 and more maintained such a high level of mental, physical, and emotional health throughout the course of the study’s three years. It’s great news for the elderly and their loved ones who may have thought a rapid deterioration was inevitable around age 80.
Obesity
Obese seniors had a lower chance of enjoying excellent health as they became older. Those who maintained a healthy weight as they aged had a 24% greater chance of flourishing as compared to their obese counterparts. The results are consistent with past research that have linked obesity to a variety of physical symptoms and cognitive issues and have revealed that exercise is equally crucial to healthy aging.
Poverty
The amount of money available was also a consideration. Those in poverty were less likely to age healthily than those in higher income brackets. Nonetheless, the research does not explain why low income is significant; however, it is plausible that stress and a lack of resources prevent people from making healthy decisions, such as eating well. More study is required to determine the nature of this connection.
Smoking
Factors related to one’s way of life are linked to good health in old age. When comparing current smokers with never-smokers, the latter group had 46% better odds of being in tip-top shape than the former. Quitting smoking later in age has been shown to increase survival rates, lung capacity, and quality of life, decrease percentages of coronary events, and alleviate respiratory symptoms in previous research. Researchers discovered that ex-smokers performed just as well as individuals who had never smoked before, proving that it’s never too late to kick the habit.
Exercise
The importance of physical exercise in ensuring healthy aging was also highlighted by the research. Moderate to vigorous physical exercise increased the likelihood of healthy aging in adults by 35% to 45%.
Sleeping well
Results showed that those who reported never or seldom having sleep issues at study entry were 29% more likely to remain in good health during the course of the trial.
