There's a reason why most people retire by the age of 60 in India. Apparently, the problems associated with ageing happen to Indians a lot faster than they do to the Japanese or the Swiss. A study conducted (first of its kind) found that there's a 30-year gap between countries with the highest and lowest ages at which people begin to face health issues that are faced by most 65-year-olds. While in Japan and Switzerland 76-year-olds face health-related issues that an average 65-year-old would face, in Papua New Guinea 46-year-olds face the same health issues too.
“These disparate findings show that increased life expectancy at older ages can either be an opportunity or a threat to the overall welfare of populations, depending on the ageing-related health problems the population experiences regardless of chronological age,” said Angela Y Chang, lead author of the study. “Age-related health problems can lead to early retirement, a smaller workforce, and higher health spending. Government leaders and other stakeholders influencing health systems need to consider when people begin suffering the negative effects of ageing,” she added.
The researchers analysed negative effects such as impaired functions and loss of physical, mental, and cognitive abilities along with communicable, non-communicable conditions and six injuries. Keeping the average age as 65, the researchers were able to estimate the ages at which people from different countries faced the same age-related health issues. Stay tuned for more updates.
