Longevity or Healthspan...Why Not Both?
As we age, we become increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining our health and prolonging our lives. However, it's important to understand that healthspan and longevity are two distinct concepts, and while they are related, they are not interchangeable. In this article, we'll discuss the differences between healthspan and longevity and why it's important to focus on both as we age.
Healthspan refers to the number of years we live in good health, free from chronic disease and disability. Essentially, it's a measure of our overall quality of life as we age. Longevity, on the other hand, refers to the length of time we live. While it's possible to live a long life, remaining healthy for the majority of it is not guaranteed. In fact, many people may live for years with chronic conditions that greatly reduce their quality of life.
So, why focus on both healthspan and longevity? For one, living a long life does not mean much if we are not able to enjoy it due to poor health. Many of the behaviors and lifestyle choices that promote good healthspan, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, can also increase our longevity. By focusing on both, we can improve our quality of life in the present while also increasing our chances of living a long, healthy life.
In 2021 Nature Partner Journals (npj) published the article Longevity leap: mind the healthspan gap. In this article is a figure that shows the difference of healthspan and longevity. Below is the figure:
The figure above shows a nine year discrepancy between healthspan and expected longevity based on 2020 data.
Garmany, A., Yamada, S. & Terzic, A. Longevity leap: mind the healthspan gap. npj Regen Med 6, 57 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-021-00169-5
Reviewing the figure, one can see from the authors’ data from 2020, there is a 9.2 year difference between expected healthspan and life expectancy or longevity (Garmany, 2021). This plainly shows the disparity between living a longer life and living a healthy long life.
While healthspan and longevity are different concepts, they are both important for overall health and well-being as we age. By focusing on both, we can improve our quality of life in the present while also increasing our chances of living a long, healthy life. Making healthy lifestyle choices now instead of when it is too late down the road, helps promote both healthspan and longevity. This is how we do not have to play “catch up” with our health.
References:
Garmany, A., Yamada, S. & Terzic, A. Longevity leap: mind the healthspan gap. npj Regen Med 6, 57 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-021-00169-5