Successful Aging

Abstract

Life expectancy in the United States (U.S.) and around the world is higher than in previous decades. The median life span in the U.S. is now 81 years for women and 76 years for men, up from 47 years in 1900. Longitudinal studies on aging have been ongoing since the mid-1900s and have provided much information about causes of morbidity and mortality, risk factors, and protective influences. Despite disease and disability, elders often consider their aging successful because of exceptional coping, optimism, resilience, and wisdom. Accordingly, such studies on aging have evolved from single focus biomedical models to more complex biopsychosocial economic models. The major longitudinal studies are the Framingham Study, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the IDEAL study, the Nurses’ Health Study, the Women’s Health Initiative, the MacArthur studies, the Berlin Aging Study, the Nun Study, the SAGe Study, and centenarian studies. Several studies have focused on successful aging in patients with, or at risk for, mental health disorders, especially anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Interventions for improving successful aging include restricted calorie diets, vigorous physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, social engagement, reinforcement of positive personality traits, meditation, and thoughtful use of medication. Positive psychiatry has an important role to play in successful aging by using these positive psychosocial approaches to improve mental health to higher levels of function, so as to create a meaningful and happy life. These practices also create physical well-being by managing the underlying actual causes of most diseases, i.e., smoking, obesity, poor nutrition, lack of physical exercise, opioid and other addictions, and suicide. Finally, positive psychiatry can help explore and expand the gifts of successful aging, especially resilience and wisdom. Channeling the wisdom of elders to younger people is an ongoing challenge that has been piloted in several successful programs. If successful on a wider scale, it could help make the world a better, safer, kinder place for all.