Lifespan vs. Healthspan: Why how well you live matters more than how long you live

by Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D., R.D.N.

When most of us think about aging well, we picture our future selves still doing what matters, working on things we care about, being present for the people we love, cooking for friends, getting outside, staying involved in our communities. Whether you are in your 20s building lifelong foundations or in your 60s refining what you already do, the science of healthspan applies to you now.

Today’s column presents a broad overview of the concept of lifespan and health span and notes the differences. It also presents some personal strategies to optimize your healthspan, as well as noting the accumulation of nutrition research and its importance to societal health.

Balance exercises are important for older adults.

Over the past century, average lifespan has increased dramatically. In 1900 in the U.S., a newborn could expect to live about 47 years.  Today, that number is closer to 79. Improved sanitation, antibiotics, safer childhood vaccines, and better emergency care all deserve credit.

But while lifespans have grown, healthspans have not kept up. Many people now live a decade or more dealing with multiple chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, arthritis, and cognitive decline. The result is a wide, often painful gap between how long people live and how long they live well (i.e., a better quality of life).

From a medical standpoint, what we’re really trying to extend is not just the number of years but the number of good, healthy years, active years in which you can participate in life on your own terms through following a healthier lifestyle.

The simple difference captures a crucial idea in longevity science: the gap between lifespan and healthspan.

Different clocks, different futures
Lifespan is straightforward. It’s the number of years between your birth and your death. Healthspan is more personal: it’s the stretch of life when you’re reasonably free of disabling disease, pain, and serious limitation. You can think of it as the period when you can still do the things that make life feel like your life.

The importance of nutrition research
The accumulation of nutrition research has led to a growing consensus that diet ought to play a larger role in society’s overall approach to health. The “food as medicine” philosophy has become intertwined with a rising interest in lifestyle medicine and whole-person health care. The goal is not to just treat disease, but to target the root causes of chronic conditions and, ideally prevent them before they arise. Look at ordering the reference from Harvard Medical School, Food as Medicine under the Reference/Resource section at the end of the column.

Personal Strategies to Optimize Your Healthspan
Evidence-Based Actions:

Regular Physical Activity
• Modest impact on lifespan
• Dramatic impact on functional capacity
• Preserves cognitive function
Social Engagement
• Maintains purpose and meaning
• Reduces cognitive decline
• Improves quality of life measures
Continuous Learning
• Builds cognitive reserve
• Maintains mental flexibility
• Enhances life satisfaction
Preventive Healthcare
• Focus on function, not just disease
• Regular assessment of capabilities
• Early intervention for declining abilities

Thanks to Harvard Health, the Mayo Clinic News Network, and the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity.
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References/Resources
Consider ordering a special health science-based report from Harvard Medical School entitled, Food is Medicine which is available at: Food is Medicine_FL – Harvard Health

Note that research has been undertaken in various countries which add some context and support to characteristics of societies where healthspan has been linked to lifespan in a positive way.  These areas are known as “Blue Zones.”  A description of these areas with results seen can be found at: New Research Confirms the Scientific Validity of Blue Zones Longevity Data – Blue Zones

Key traits of Blue Zone Communities are explained at the following resource: What Is a Blue Zone Community? Key Traits Explained – ScienceInsights
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Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D., R.D.N. served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador in the mid-1970s. He has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 40 years, completed graduate studies in Nutrition & Public Health at Columbia University and earned a Ph.D. in International/Intercultural Development Education at Florida State University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.