What is “successful aging?” It depends.
Scientists and scholars have been actively and robustly addressing this
topic for over fifty years. Recently,
Dr. Leonard Poon’s distinguished multi-disciplinary team carefully reviewed the
literature and conceded that we cannot agree on what it means to age “successfully,”
as that is a relative term with cultural, religious, psychological, and
biological factors to consider.
While most of the earlier
studies focused on identifying successful aging as maintaining optimum health
and avoiding disease, more contemporary models have emerged. For example, the MacArthur study defined
optimum or positive aging as “freedom from disease and disability, high
cognitive and physical functioning, and active engagement with life” (Martin et
al., 2015, p. 18). Does the absence of these three criteria
equate to unsuccessful or negative/undesirable aging? Are older adults able to age successfully in
spite of health declines? The Poon study
(Martin et al., 2015) is worth reviewing, as it is a comprehensive literature
review that answers many questions but leaves us wanting more.
Principle investigator of the Harvard Grant Study on Aging, George
Valiant, identified a formula for successful aging from his longitudinal
research that began in 1937 and is still in progress. Maintaining strong social networks was an
important finding in the Grant study, as lonely and toxic individuals have
destructive relationships that negatively impact aging. Valiant identified the two
groups of agers as, the Happy Healthy
and the Sad Sick. While absence of chronic diseases is
important for optimum longevity, Valiant found that chronic conditions can be
mitigated by adapting and maximizing strengths (Valiant, 2015).
His findings included five
elements for successful aging include; maintaining a healthy weight over the
lifespan, low alcohol intake, regular mental and physical exercise, engaging in
hobbies, and maintaining close relationships.
Having good people around you is key (Valiant, 2015).
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The two sources below are
outstanding resources for learning more about successful aging.
Martin, P., Kelly, N., Kahana,
B., Kahana, E., Willcox, B.J., Willcox, D.C., & Poon, L.W. (2015). Defining successful aging: a tangible or elusive
concept? The Gerontologist, 55(1),
14-25. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu044
Valliant,
G.E. (2015). Triumphs of experience: the
men of the Harvard Grant Study.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
