healthspan
∙3 minute read
What’s the difference between healthspan and lifespan?
When we talk about living longer, it's important to understand the terms 'lifespan' and 'healthspan'. But what's the difference, and why does it matter? Simply put, lifespan is how many years you live, while healthspan is about how many of those years you live in good health, free from significant illnesses.¹
Understanding the importance of healthspan can help you make lifestyle choices that improve not only how long you live but also how well you live.
How has lifespan changed?
In the last century, medicine and technology have helped people live much longer. The average lifespan jumped from just over 47 years in 1950 to nearly 73 years today.¹ This leap was largely due to advances in medicine. We’re now treating diseases, heart problems, and cancer more effectively than ever before. However, a key question remains: are we spending these extra years in good health?
What is healthspan?
Healthspan refers to the length of time a person lives without experiencing significant health issues or serious diseases.² Unfortunately, while life expectancy is increasing, many people aren’t enjoying these additional years in good health.²
While we are reaching older ages, we’re often living with conditions that affect our quality of life, such as diabetes or heart disease.3 A recent study found that, on average, we spend about 9.6 fewer years in good health compared to our total lifespan.³ This means that although we might live to a ripe old age, a big chunk of those years might involve living with illnesses.
How do social and economic factors play a role?
Where you live can have a big impact on how long and how healthily you live. In places like the United States, where many people suffer from long-term illnesses, people tend to live longer but spend a bigger part of their lives dealing with health problems. This is because these diseases often cause long-lasting health issues rather than reducing how long you live. Additionally, while women usually live longer than men, they often face more health problems in their later years.3
What does the future look like, according to science?
Emerging science, especially in the field of epigenetics, is offering new insights into how we might extend our healthspan. Scientists have discovered markers in our DNA that can help predict ageing and related diseases, potentially paving the way for personalised health interventions, such as a tailored diet.² By focusing on these markers, healthcare might soon be able to predict and improve our health outcomes more accurately.²
While the focus used to be on living longer, we should aim to live healthier lives as well. The goal is to delay the start of age-related diseases and enjoy a better quality of life in our later years.2
The numan take
While we've made great strides in extending how long we live, the real challenge now is to make sure those additional years are healthy ones. Current data shows a significant gap between lifespan and healthspan worldwide, highlighting the need for preventative healthcare, so we can live happier, healthier, and longer lives.
References
Garmany, A., Yamada, S., & Terzic, A. (2021). Longevity leap: mind the healthspan gap. npj Regenerative Medicine, 6, Article 57.
Levine, M. E., et al. (2018). An epigenetic biomarker of aging for lifespan and healthspan. Aging (Albany NY), 10(4), 573–591.
Garmany, A., & Terzic, A. (2024). Global healthspan-lifespan gaps among 183 World Health Organization member states. JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2450241.
Written by Joe Young
Digital Copywriter, BA English Literature
Medically reviewed by Hassan Thwaini
Clinical Pharmacist and Copywriter, Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)
