According to a Finnish study done by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyvaskyla, older people are now healthier than ever. The study compared muscle strength, walking speed, reaction speed, verbal fluency, reasoning and working memory of people aged 70 to 90 with similar measures from 1990. Today's seniors were stronger, faster and more mentally alert than those of 30 years ago. The researchers attributed the difference to improvements in diet, more exercise and continuing education. Apparently there were no Americans in the study.
The takeaway from this is that the decisions you make today about what you eat, how active you are and what sort of mental exercise you get will make a real difference to you in your future. Like with any other investment, you make choices now and reap the rewards (or losses) later. If you ignore what you eat, exercise by clicking the remote control from the couch and think education ends in high school, you may find your lifespan outlasts your healthspan. On the other hand, making good choices now may leave you stronger, healthier and smarter in your old age.
You can pay now, or you can pay later.
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