E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Nelvin C. Cepeda / U-T San Diego via ZUMAPRESS.com
Gordon Shields, shown in 2011 at age 93, was among more than 1,000 participants in a study that found despite the problems of aging, the older we get, the better we feel.
Growing old is not for sissies, as the bumper sticker says, and as anyone who has entered midlife can attest. But a new study finds that despite the physical and mental toll of time, people actually feel better as they age -- not worse.
In fact, when California researchers asked more than 1,000 people aged 50 to 99 in San Diego county to rank how well they were aging on scale of 1 to 10, the mean score was 8.2 -- and even higher for those in their 90s.
“I think I ranked myself pretty high. I think it was up around 10. Why not?” said Gordon "Gordy" Shields, 94, one of the participants in the Successful AGing Evaluation Study, or SAGE, conducted by scientists at the University of California, San Diego, and Stanford University.
To Shields, who became a world-class cycling champion after age 50, aging is just another part of the life process.
“You can enjoy aging as long as you accept it,” said Shields, a former high school and community college teacher and counselor.
That’s despite the undeniable declines in physical and mental abilities that come with age. Study participants were divided into groups by decade from those in their 50s to those in their 90s. People in the older age groups scored progressively worse on measures of health and cognitive function, even as they scored higher on their own ratings of successful aging.
Those results were not what the researchers were expecting, said Dr. Dilip V. Jeste, a UCSD professor of psychiatry and president of the American Psychiatric Association, who described the findings as “eye-popping.”
“We were astounded by how physical disability and self-rated successful aging went in diametrically opposite directions with aging,” Jeste told NBC News.
The results also suggested that the more resilient people are -- or able to cope with acute stressors -- the better they aged. Conversely, people who reported higher levels of depression were less likely to say they were aging well.
“Increasing resilience and reducing depression might have effects on successful aging as strong as that of reducing physical disability,” the study authors wrote.
The researchers recruited 1,006 study participants in San Diego county using a large telephone database to ensure they were randomly selected. They screened out anyone who was in a nursing home, or who needed daily nursing care, and those who had dementia, a terminal illness or required hospice care.
The idea was to survey older people who weren’t necessarily healthier than average, but who weren’t predisposed to disability and illness, either. They conducted telephone interviews and then administered detailed written surveys to assess the effects of aging.
What the researchers found was that in their 50s, participants who were asked how well they were aging posted a mean score of 7.7 on the 10-point scale, and 49 points on a 100-point scale of physical function.
Those in their 90s, however, rated themselves at 8.6 for aging successfully, even though their mean score was only 37.3 for physical ability. The results were similar for cognitive function measured during the telephone interview.
“I think this should really change people’s outlook about aging,” Jeste said. “Usually when we think about aging, we think it’s bad.”
The participants were mostly white and mostly better educated than average, the study reported. Cynics might ask whether healthy, well-educated people living in sunny San Diego might be more likely to report aging well than seniors in less desirable circumstances.
But Jeste said that the results should hold up nationwide. "We don't think our findings are restricted to the population living in San Diego."
The new results are consistent with previous research that shows that people are depressed in middle age, but then become happier as they get older, Jeste said.
That may be because older folks likely have grappled with the most contentious questions of life -- work, family, finances -- and come to some resolution.
“As people get older, they are less bothered by negative stimuli,” Jeste said. “You take things in stride. Regret becomes less common.”
That makes sense to Laura Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, who was not involved in the SAGE study. Older people with shrinking horizons know their time is limited and they seem to appreciate what’s left.
“They tend to focus on the here and now,” she said. “That’s good for mental health.”
For Gordon Shields, who was recently sidelined from cycling because of heart problems, aging well is all about accepting the next challenge of life.
“The main thing is to keep involved, not only physically but mentally and socially,” the great-great-grandfather said.
“You accept the process and adapt to it,” he added. “Don’t fight it.”
Related stories:
- Why older people fall for scams: It's all in the brain
- Look old for your age? 4 signs that predict heart risk
- Many seniors sleep as well as younger adults
Leave a Comment:
Total propaganda and BS. This kind of so-called research is not even close to scientific, and the journalistic reporting is meant to implant memes and shape ideas. Totally bogus.
?
THIS STUDY IS DEAD-ON CORRECT.
Ask control-groups of old people in France, Congo, China, India, Chile, Cuba the same set of questions and I bet you get similar replies. What you will find is that people who stay active (physically and/or mentally) and adaptive to negative stimuli will continue to exhibit positive attitudes. The "what doesn't kill makes us stronger" term has more empirical data behind it than anything else in the history of humans. This isn't new-age BS, its not exact science, but it is undeniable truth.
So, you limit your study to one affluent city in southern CA, eliminate all the sick ones, and then ask people for their own self-assessment on how they feel to come up with a measurement. Seriously? What I see is old people living longer but sicker, addicted to prescription drugs to suppress pain and other symptoms. About 70 percent of seniors in the US take prescription drugs ongoingly for chronic health problems. They fill an average of 3 dozen prescriptions a year - this is healthy?
I noticed that myself. What a load of nonsense.
Aging is very difficult. For women even more so. Sure you can embrace the obvious, but on a daily basis the fact is a person is limited. Look I consider myself extremely lucky that I am over 60 now and ride horses every day. I am by far a better rider today than I ever was in my 20s. I am as agile in the saddle as I have ever been, if not better.
However, take me off a horse and my age shows. I cannot run anymore. I once was a runner. My joints don't hurt, again lucky, but my circulation stinks. My skin is lousy. My eyes are lousy. My hair has thinned. Gosh I could fill up a page of things that have deteriorated and that I frankly miss.
See I miss what I once took for granted.
Agreed... I see it not as managed health care but managed disease care!
Be well...
si
My first thought after reading the article was, "Okay, now tell my body that!"
Not sure how 1,600 subjects translates to the millions of people who fall into the age groups 50-90. Seems a little narrow to me. If it were 1,600 subjects in each of the 50 states then it might be a little more relevant. I grew up in S. FLA., but now live in the north (that's pretty backwards, eh?) and I'm in my 60's. I do think that environment does play into how "comfortable" some of the physical aging issues are, and of course, not everyone can live where it's conveniently comfortable. So, studying subjects in SoCal does skew the numbers a bit I think.
Don't remember who said it (well..there's the mental decline..ha! ha!)...BUT...no matter a person's age "Death is our constant companion". That speaks to living each day as well as we can, and being kind, and doing those random acts of kindness. So, that when that "companion" takes your hand, you will be missed by your family and friends as a "star" gone from their midst, and not as some cranky old person.
I agre with Isis. Well said: "Don't remember who said it (well..there's the mental decline..ha! ha!)...BUT...no matter a person's age "Death is our constant companion". That speaks to living each day as well as we can, and being kind, and doing those random acts of kindness. So, that when that "companion" takes your hand, you will be missed by your family and friends as a "star" gone from their midst, and not as some cranky old person."
This is a seriously flawed study. They aimed at 1800 random people 21+ and ended up with 1006 50+ who met very specific criteria. All the subjects were "in-dwelling in the community" meaning that they were living together in a home or apartment as a married couple. No nursing home or assisted-living patients were considered. No people with serious medical conditions (including osteo-arthritis) were interviewed. No widows or widowers were enrolled. No people with a history of depression or cognitive impairment were enrolled. And the list goes on and on.
Their conclusion should have been: "A small-number of high-income individuals with strong primary support and overall excellent health were found to feel that they were "aging well." This is the kind of crap research that comes out of medical schools these days. Very small studies (mostly because the US has no unified health records system) that ignore controls for various aspects and then equate correlation with causality.
If you have doubts about the study, e-mail me and I'll tell you exactly why the study is a bunch of bunkus and why it should be disregarded. I have an ace in the hole on this one.
Well, DUH!!! If someone lives into his or her 90s and is still active and mentally alert, then he or she is obviously going to indicate that they are aging well. How many people live into their 90s, much less feeling good health-wise and coping well mentally?
ISIS - I'm also in my 60s. I was born and raised in Florida and have lived in Michigan for the past 14 years. I moved to Ann Arbor to begin graduate school at the University of Michigan at age 48. While I love certain aspects of Florida, I love the seasonal changes in Michigan. Each season is better than the last. The spring flowers are gorgeous. The summers were mild until these past couple of years (don't know how global warming is going to change that long term). The fall colors are spectacular, and the winter cold and snow is invigorating. I have the option to move anywhere at anytime, but I choose to stay in Michigan until I decide otherwise. I hope that you are equally happy living in the north.
When the article stated that, "Cynics might ask whether healthy, well-educated people living in sunny San Diego might be more likely to report aging well than seniors in less desirable circumstances", my first thought was what an inane comment! I've lived in sunny climates and prefer the north. I've been to San Diego several times but would never, ever want to live there on a permanent basis. To each his own. Why would anyone consider someone who does not live in sunny San Diego as living in "less desirable circumstances"?
If they wanted a representative group, then they should have included a wide range of individuals. Not removed those who had health issues. By taking those out, it messed up their findings. They had an agenda in mind, and so screened out anyone who would have prevented what they wanted to show.
By eliminating everyone who wasn't aging well, they are being dishonest to the public in reporting that people age well. This is pathetic. Because I would say, given the small group surveyed, a lot more people experience a decline in their health, emotional, mental and physical.
No doubt someone got some funding for this pet project and needed it to show this specific result by removing the ill. Otherwise, keep them in and show the ration of unhealthy to healthy in a chart and the percentages as one ages.
It would help people understand their chances of feeling better as they age. A very important thing to know, which they could make health changes now to improve their chances.
It bugs me when lousy studies are done. Then the public swallows the whole thing, hook, line and sinker.
Figures this comes out of California! I'm starting to think that they're All nuts out there. I'm 60 now and here in Baltimore, I can tell you that Life pretty much Stinks! Getting up in the early AM Still going to work, sometimes I wake up feeling like someone was beating me with a Bat all night. The Old Joke goes like, Doc: "What Hurts?" Me: "Everything Hurts!" Maybe if I WAS Retired and living somewhere like San Diego I might feel better. What a Load of Crap!
This strikes me as a faulty "study" with a hand-picked group of subjects living in highly desireable circumstances. Interview the greater majority of seniors who have had serious illnesses or conditions for many years and now face living on low income and not yet eligible for Medicare. They are subjected to the rigors or their medical challenges plus the prohibitive cost of their uninsured prescription costs. Now tell me how Good they feel!
I am assuming the older you are the happier and more grateful you feel just getting up and out of bed each day. You may not feel 100% but when you are 80 if you can get up and out of your own bed each day and also do what makes you happy then that is a feel good day. The gym I go to is loaded with 70 and 80 year old people who are happy and when asked if they feel good always say "yes".
I can't imagine that 70 - 80 year old folks who go to the gym are representative of their age group. I do think, however, that the older one gets, the more successful they feel they have aged. How could someone in their 90's NOT feel that they've aged successfully? That's like the CEO of a large corporation feeling successful professionally. They got there, didn't they? Success.
I can well imagine someone being in their 90's and definitely not feeling well. But then again there are probably those much younger who may feel like they are in their 90's on some or even most days. I think it depends on a lot of things. How well did you take care of yourself when you were in your youth and prime, heredity, and even some luck thrown in there all collaborate together in depending if you will get to old age and how well you feel once you get there.
What I've gleaned from all I've read about aging is that physical activity will make a difference to your outlook, even if you have low socio economic problems to tend with.
Were the researchers on crack when they conducted the study? To all of you under the age of 50. In most cases, your health gets worse after 50....don't believe the hype. Like someone said above. You're grateful you wake up every day.
You weed out all the people who'd have reason to feel bad and then ask the remainder if they feel good? And call it "research"?
No wonder some of us good-feeling older folk nonetheless think the world is going to hell in a handbasket. I've never gone along with the idea that age necessarily brings wisdom, (and I'm sure there are those who would offer me as Exhibit A), but that junk like this is reported seriously might well support the thesis.
I feel happier now than at any other time of my life. Once I turned 50 the old bod started breaking down and my memory is getting worse but emotionally I am in a very good place. I am married to my soul mate (25 years) I have a fairly good job, and I am living in the house of my dreams (paid for no mortgage). A couple more years and I will gladly leave the race to the rats. I have had a job my whole adult life and am really looking forward to the freedom of retirement -I have a bucket list as long as my arm and live in a beautiful area with plenty to do and see. Acceptance is key to aging. For instance-I started waking up at 4:00 a.m. At first it was a struggle and I hated it-eventually I accepted it and today it is my favorite time of the day. I am much more tolerant and patient than I use to be-I understand I am on the downside of the hill and I want my last years on this planet to be the very best they can be........
I'm happy for you, peace, that your life is going so well. I'm pretty much in the same place as yourself, with things starting to break down, but I've come to understand that WE are NOT our bodies - they're just the vehicles we use to have our human experience. I think as we get older we realize more and more what the truly important things are, and they're not material. I hope you enjoy your retirement for many happy, healthy years.
Thanks rkaralius-I agree. We are all so much more than bodies & EGO's-I decided a while back I would rather be happy then 'right'-I would rather be grateful for the good and the positive then complain and focus on the negative, and I have been given so much of the good stuff in this life that if I died tomorrow I would have no regrets...........I hope you enjoy your retirement too- (I have a feeling we both will)
I am sooo with y'all on this. I am 65. Although I have some debilitating health issues, I wouldn't go back to being who I was at 25 when I was strong and a model. Here I am slowly losing the battle with gravity, laughing at my sags and love handles, having the best sex of my life (seriously! what a surprise, huh?) and finding much freedom of spirit, acceptance of differences, and compassion. Maybe a little wisdom, too. It surely is an adventure. I want to die laughing, everyone, knowing I had a great ride, a dream marriage to my prince, knowing that people everywhere have so much in common. This universe is a beautiful and wondrous place.
There is an old Irish proverb that says "Never regret getting older. Many are denied the privilege".
I am in my mid-50's and it is getting a bit harder. Due to hormonal changes and an underactive thyroid, I've put on 30 pounds in the last 10 years. It's exceptionally hard to lose this weight, no matter how hard I try. I can diet till the cows come home and I'm lucky to lose a pound. I can exercise till I drop and it doesn't help much. I've just resigned myself to the fact that I probably won't be able to lose weight until these hormones straighten out.
I have to make the choice to stay active and keep myself healthy by eating right and doing pilates or swimming or walking or riding my exercise bike. It's all a choice. I can also choose to sit down and eat sweets and watch TV all day.
Anything develops problems with age, be it a computer, a car or a person. It's a fact of life. Better to learn how to deal with it rather than depend on stupid articles like this one!
Cant believe i read this article and the comments-bunch of idiots one an all.
i feel fine whats the alternative-sickness,death?
My, aren't you a jolly, optimistic soul, dennis?
I am 85 and would like to feel as good as I did when 17 landing on the beach in Okinawa.The only thing good about old age is you only have to do it once.
Try feeling good when you are caring for your 80 year old wife who has had dementia for 10 years.
The whole idea of the Golden Years is an invention of the medical community because people in this age bracket supply them with all their gold. From my experience getting old sucks.
Right on, ken,
I can't think of a single good thing about getting old. And that includes waking up every morning.
The heading for this article is very misleading. The study asked people to rate on a scale of 1-10 how well they were aging. They did not ask them, if they felt better now then when you were younger. I am 71 and I would say that on a scale of 1-10 my answer would be 8 for how well I am aging. However, I do not physically feel as well as I did 5, 10, 15, 20 or more years ago. Each day brings a new challenge physically and mentally. No, getting old is not for sissies and you do not feel better as you get older.
If you keep moving and eat well, you will do well no matter how old you are. I am almost 72 and my doctor told me I pretty much have the body of a teenager. Nice compliment! I refuse to sit still unless I have to. I now work full time as a school volunteer and really enjoying it.
The "here and now" is often the main source of stress and depression. Death, a diagnosed serious illness, natural disasters, wars . etc., are life changing events that require time and great effort to overcome. The only remedy is efforts to deal with the unchangeable present and hope for a better future. A person living in a terrible present must find a reason to continue living and striving..in other words "hope"
Racing on a bike at age 93 is a wonderful and winning purusit if your are racing against persons who are 96+ years old. Better to take Cialis or Viagra and take the risk of having an erection that last more than 4 hours. Why call a doctor about this when you should try to get into the Guiness Book of Records for having the longest erection at age 80-100.
I am 72 yrs young. I feel I have aged well. When younger I worried a lot about future health, finances etc. Now I dont worry about anything and am grateful for each and every day. Knowing I will die some day does not even enter into the equazion.
Unless you are taking bio-identical hormones as I am - I am a 62-year-old male - your old age will definitely not be golden. My partner - female taking bio-identical hormones and still has periods - feels just like I do: Fantastic. Remember, I said BIO-IDENTICAL hormones ( I take 100mgs of testosterone daily via creams ) and I feel better than ANY MAN MY AGE WHO DOES NOT - Period. Without hormones, you're done with, over, old and boring. Forget the synthetics from Big Pharma - they are poison, quite simply. Every man I encounter who is my age asks me why I look and feel so good ( I have been eating organically for 20 years now, too ) BTW, I eat only butter and red meats and veggies. Low-fat, vegetable oils and meatless diets will make you unhealthy. Oh, I take no pharmaceuticals because I never get sick. That's my experience and I'm sticking with it!
This study is hogwash. There's very little that's good about aging, and it isn't for sissies.
I have very painful osteoarthritis. Most of my blood family is gone, and as a poster above said, "Death is a constant companion." If you live long enough you lose everyone you love as well as your independence. That is some ways is the hardest thing to lose. Life is not beautiful when you are old.
Hope? What in the heck is there to hope for? There is only one sure event in your future.
The only good I can think of is having my days to myself and not having to work, although if my position at he hospital where I worked for almost 33 years had not been eliminated when I was 60, I would have preferred to keep working.
If I didn't have my computer, life would be even less worth living.
Being old is indeed a pain.
I am about to turn 51, work in the education field, am physically active, not overweight, am on no medications, and eat a sensible diet. When I wake up at 4:30 am to feed my geriatric dog, my back hurts, my knees hurt, my neck hurts. Once I am up and around I am good to go, but I am in no way happy about feeling like an old lady upon rising.
I can't imagine that I will feel a ton better by the time I get to be 60 or 70. Now maybe if I got to live in the lap of luxury in So.CA, and had doctors at my beckon call, maybe then I'd feel pretty darn good too!
I ain't gonna hold my breath!
I am 87 years & 7 months of age. My life has a little difficult because of Polio @ age 3. It left me with one leg that was all but useless. I have worn a brace that helped me move around.Just imagine lugging an 8 pound brace around with every step you take. I worked a full career and raised a family. To me age is just a number and those who complain about that number getting bigger, I feel sorry for you. Your life is what you make it. Yes I have aches and pains but my feelings are when the pain gets tired of hurting it will give up. Me I will not give up until my number is called.
When anyone ask me how I'm doing. My stock answer is: Heck, I don't know, I've never been this age before.
The only hurts I have at this age of 72. It's the hurts I feel when I hear of someone dying much younger than myself. Thinking of how much life they have missed out on. I've always looked at problem different. My feelings is if you won't remember that certain problem in five years, then don't get depressed over it.
When my grown kids or grown grand kids get upset on a problem, I'm the first one they call so I can calm them down and realize their problems are so small. I admit, I smile inside when I hear each of them calling me so cool and so positive about life.
deb, you sound like my father. He lived to the age of 90, and when we came to him with a problem, we always left with the feeling that whatever was bothering us wasn't so bad. I keep his picture on my computer desktop because on my worst days I still get that feeling when I see it. He has been gone for 19 years, but looking at his picture can still make me feel better. He was so accepting, but even he on his bad days (there really weren't many) would say to my sisters and me, "Babies, old age is the s***s.