Age Is Just a Number: New Study Shows Middle-Aged and Older Adults Believe Old Age Starts Later in Life

According to a study published in the journal of the American Psychological Association, Psychology and Aging, reaching the age of 70 is no longer considered old. Instead, middle-aged and older adults now believe that old age starts later in life. This shift in public perception of old age has been attributed to increased life expectancy and delayed retirement.

Markus Wettstein, a researcher at Humboldt University in Berlin and lead author of the study, explains that advancements in health and longevity over time may be the reason why people today do not consider 70 years old as old. The study examined data from over 14,000 participants in the German Survey on Aging, spanning from 1996 to 2021. Participants were asked at what age they would describe someone as old.

The study found that compared to earlier generations, those born later perceived old age set in later in life. The tendency to postpone the onset of old age has slowed down in recent years. Women, on average, perceived old age to begin two years later than men. Additionally, individuals who felt lonelier, had poorer health, and felt older tended to consider old age starting earlier compared to those who felt less lonely, were healthier, and felt younger.

These findings may have implications for how people prepare for their own aging process and their perceptions of older adults in general. As individuals age