To do so, the researchers measured strength, reaction speed, lung function, walking speed, verbal fluency, reasoning, and working memory. The lung function test was the only measure where no changes were observed between the two groups - in all remaining tests, the 2018 group performed much better than the 1990 group. Not only were modern-day seniors more physically active, and thus had better walking speed and muscle strength, they also engaged in learning and education more and so their mental performance better as well.
The researchers point out that many favorable factors, such as better nutrition and hygiene, health care innovations, better education and working life all seem to contribute to the overall better health and wellbeing of modern-day seniors. The study's authors conclude that seniors today remain functional through later years in life than their peers from 30 years ago.
As the researchers were quoted as concluding, “The results suggest that our understanding of older age is old-fashioned. From an aging researcher’s point of view, more years are added to midlife, and not so much to the utmost end of life. Increased life expectancy provides us with more non-disabled years, but at the same time, the last years of life come at higher and higher ages, increasing the need for care. Among the aging population, two simultaneous changes are happening: continuation of healthy years to higher ages and an increased number of very old people who need external care.”
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