Doctors Differentiate Healthspan from Lifespan, Emphasizing Quality of Life in Aging
Doctors are increasingly distinguishing between 'lifespan' and 'healthspan,' with a growing focus on the latter. Lifespan refers to the total number of years a person lives, while healthspan denotes the years lived in good health, free from chronic diseases or significant disabilities. Dr. Pamela Brar, Medical Director of the Longevity Program at Mayo Clinic in Florida, defines lifespan as the chronological age individuals can anticipate achieving, typically around 80 years in the U.S. Dr. Ariela Orkaby, a geriatrician at Mass General Brigham, notes that healthspan generally peaks around the mid-60s, approximately 15 years shorter than the average lifespan. This distinction highlights that while life expectancy in the U.S. has risen to 79 years, the quality of those later years is a critical concern. Experts emphasize that many conditions limiting healthspan, such as hypertension, arthritis, and certain cancers, become more prevalent in the 60s and beyond, though some factors are within an individual's con...