How fast are you ageing? It depends on where you live
At what age do you feel 65? A new study has revealed that Aussies are among the world’s slowest when it comes to developing age-related health problems.
According to the review recently published on The Lancet, elders in New Zealand do not feel 65 – a global average commonly assumed as the beginning of old age – until they are 72.5 years old.
Australians fare slightly better, holding off their 65-year health burdens until they are 73.6 years old.
Switzerland has the world’s slowest decline rate, with Swiss elders retaining their healthy years until they are 76.1 years old. It is followed by Singapore and South Korea, which hit the 65-year mark for physical, mental, and cognitive impairments at the age of 76 and 75.1 respectively.
On the other hand, Papua New Guinea is found to be the fastest ageing country in the world, as its citizens begin developing age-related health issues by the time they reach 46. Other poor performers include Vanuatu and Kiribati, where people begin experiencing the onsets of ageing at 52.2-year-old and 54.2-year-old respectively.
The study uses global average 65-year-olds and their experience with 92 age-related diseases to identify the level in which different countries around the world are ageing. It is measured by the sum of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), or the number of lost healthy years.
Switzerland as the slowest ageing country only has 104.9 DALYs per 1,000 adults. Meanwhile, New Zealand has 138 DALYs per thousand individuals, making it number 34 in the world.
According to Norman Swan Medical Communications, the pace of biological ageing could be slowed down with lifestyle changes. However, the study emphasised the importance of government intervention in addressing the issue.
"Age-related health problems can lead to early retirement, a smaller workforce, and higher health spending," said Dr Angela Chang, lead author of the study and postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Health Trends and Forecasts at the University of Washington.
"Government leaders and other stakeholders influencing health systems need to consider when people begin suffering the negative effects of ageing."