What does it mean to age well?
Are you ageing well and doing your best to prevent premature ageing?
The Open University and Age UK have created a short set of questions to help you reflect on your lifestyle and learn how you can improve the chances of a long and healthy life. Don’t worry if you don’t score top marks - it’s never too late to make a difference. It could take just a few simple steps to improve your longevity.
Let’s find out if you’re ageing well…
“I have so many aches and pains, is it normal for my age?”
It’s a question that people over 50 or younger can relate to. To have aches and pains is a common thing, but one must never presume or accept pain if it’s ongoing with no obvious reason. Aches and pains don’t always mean that you're not ageing well; there may be some underlying issues that can be resolved. It’s important to listen to your body and give it a helping hand so it doesn’t let you down as you age.
Everyone has two ages…
We have a biological age and a chronological age, and they aren’t always the same. A fit and healthy 50-year-old could have the biological age of 40, a sedentary worker of the same age could have the biological age of a 55-year-old. Your biological age indicates the damage to the inside of your body during your lifetime. Lifestyle plays a big role in your biological age - your occupation, environment, diet, and physical activity, for example.
The biomarkers of ageing…
Experts analyse a person’s biomarkers in their body to find out how well it is functioning. The biomarkers include DNA methylation patterns, telomere length, blood biomarkers, and other physiological and physical tests. Home tests are available to help you find out if you are ageing well.
Your life span and health span…
We have a life and health span - we live a finite number of years and a number of years in good health. Someone could live a long life span, but only be healthy for half of that time, so they have a short health span. There are key factors that contribute to rapid ageing and increased risk of chronic disease, which affect your health span.
Let’s find out more by reflecting on your current physical and mental health by answering some simple questions…
Are you staying active and including strength training in your physical activities?
Do you have good grip strength and steady balance?
Do you have good mobility?
Can you perform everyday tasks with ease? Climbing the stairs, carrying the groceries, or reaching for things?
Do you do activities to improve cognitive health as you age? Complete puzzles, read, watch quiz shows, try new things, or play an instrument?
Are you sociable? Do you make time to mix with family and friends and make new friends?
Do you generally have a positive outlook on life? Or, feel depressed, stressed, or anxious?
Are you eating healthy and staying hydrated? Drinking plenty of water, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, eating a nutritious diet and avoiding too much junk food?
Do you practise self-care and make time to relax? Have a skincare routine, and partake in relaxation activities?
Do you monitor your health? Have regular health checks, including dental and eye check-ups? Is your weight and blood pressure appropriate for your age?
With all that information, let’s take a look at ‘Take 5 to age well’...
Dr Jitka Vseteckova from The Open University created a 5-pillar program, ‘Take 5’, to help boost people’s health and well-being so they can lead a longer and healthier life. The program was launched in September 2023, an interim report has been published, and a full report is due this year. There were 3254 participants in the program, aged between 35-91, with 83% being female. Their behaviour was tracked for 30 days, monitoring daily actions whilst they received motivational communication and guidance from the experts involved in the program.
The Take 5 to age well program included guidance and motivation to:
Eat healthy.
Drink and stay hydrated.
Move to boost body and mind.
Connect and engage.
Think and use your brain.
In conclusion, after the 30 days, participants said the program induced healthier routines in their lives. They had increased motivation and appreciated the regular communication with the organisers. Moving forward, participants need to stay proactive and sustain their efforts to continue ageing well.
The program now works in collaboration with organisations such as the NHS, Carers Trust, and Carers UK.
Find out more about the interim report here.
In addition to eating a healthy diet, you can take supplements to help with deficiencies, relieve pain, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
It’s never too late to start ageing well.
References
https://wels.open.ac.uk/research/projects/take-5
https://wels.open.ac.uk/sites/wels.open.ac.uk/files/files/Take5_Interim_Short_Report%20final.pdf
Disclaimer
I am not a medical expert. References are included in these articles. Please consult your doctor for medical advice if you have any health concerns.
