Getting old it is not a sentence!

It is considered that aging is directly related to the general deterioration of cognitive functions (concentration, speed of information processing, etc.), health, and a decrease in physical and social activity. This, in turn, leads to a deterioration in the quality of life and its duration. However, modern advances in science and medicine have led to a significant increase in life expectancy. But the question is: what happens to the quality of increased life and is it accompanied by an increase in functional and cognitive abilities?

Matti Minuoka and Taina Raitanen with colleagues From the University of Jäväskylä (Finland) compared similar indicators of maximum physical performance and cognitive functions in two population older groups (cohorts), born and evaluated with a difference of 28 years.

Participants in the first group were born in 1910 and 1914 and were evaluated in 1989-1890. Participants in the second group were born in 1938-1939 and 1942-1943 and were evaluated in 2017-2018.  Participants in both groups were evaluated at the age of 75 and 80 years.

Cognitive function was measured in the same laboratory using the same standardized tests (Digit Span, scale memory Veksler (WMS), a test Digit Symbol scale of intelligence Wechsler adult (WAIS) and the test of phonemic verbal fluency test mental abilities of adults Shai-Thurston).

Functional and physical ability was measured by evaluating maximum walking speed, maximal isometric grip strength and extension of the knee, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

The data obtained confirm the results of two similar studies and show statistically significant improvements in both cognitive functions and physical capabilities in later groups compared to earlier ones. Walking speed increased by an average of 0.2-0.4 meters per second, grip strength — from 5% to 25%, knee extension strength-from 20% to 47%, lung capacity improved from 14% to 21%, and the volume of forced exhalation — up to 14%.

The authors attribute such a clear difference in results to higher levels of education, improved health care, improved nutrition and hygiene, as well as more complex work and, as a result, greater cognitive loads throughout life, greater social activity and increased cognitive stimulating activities in leisure (cinema, television, computer, etc.). the Benefits of adequate physical activity not only for maintaining good physical condition and health, but for cognitive functions have already been shown in many studies.

As a result, we can conclude that we not only live longer, but also maintain our physical health and cognitive functions longer. Of course, if you have adequate physical and cognitive loads, proper nutrition and effective health care.  I would like to believe that with a further increase in life expectancy, positive dynamics regarding cognitive functions and physical condition will continue.

If you want to read more about the research: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-020-01702-0#citeas

https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/gerona/glaa224/5901594?redirectedFrom=fulltext