What is healthy aging: What does healthy aging really mean?

Healthy aging isn't an attempt to stop old age or a state in which a person is disease-free. The World Health Organization defines healthy aging as the process of developing and maintaining functional capacity that enables well-being in old age. Simply put, the key question here isn't "how young do your cells look?" or even "how many diagnoses do you have?" but whether you can continue to move, make independent decisions, meet daily needs, maintain relationships, and pursue the things that are important to you. [1]

Therefore, a person with hypertension, arthrosis, or diabetes may qualify for healthy aging if the conditions are controlled and do not significantly limit their life. Conversely, the absence of a serious diagnosis does not necessarily mean successful aging if a person gradually loses strength, mobility, hearing, social connections, or the ability to independently cope with everyday tasks. The WHO explicitly emphasizes that the absence of disease is not a prerequisite for healthy aging. [2]

The second fundamental difference of the modern approach is that human health is not considered in isolation from the environment. The same level of physical ability may pose virtually no limitations to a person in an accessible building with an elevator, convenient transportation, and support from loved ones, but it may severely limit them in a building without an elevator, with poor eyesight, and the inability to get to the store or doctor on their own. Therefore, healthy aging is a function of the body's own capabilities and the conditions in which these capabilities are realized. [3]

This concept underlies the United Nations Decade on Healthy Ageing, coordinated by the World Health Organization and run from 2021 to 2030. Its goal goes far beyond the individual advice of "eat well and walk more": it encompasses prevention, medical care, social support, accessible urban environments, long-term care, and the reduction of ageism. [4]

What does WHO mean by healthy aging?

The concept centers on three interrelated elements: intrinsic capacity, environment, and functional ability. Functional ability arises from the interaction of the first two. This significantly alters the conventional medical view, which often assessed the health of older adults primarily based on a list of illnesses. [5]

Intrinsic capacity can be translated as internal potential, inner viability, or the totality of an organism's physical and mental capabilities. It includes the ability to move, see, hear, think, remember, maintain psychological stability, and sufficient physiological "vitality." This potential is influenced by age-related changes, illness, injury, nutrition, lifestyle, and many other factors. [6]

Functional ability is a broader concept. It shows what a person is actually capable of doing with their existing potential in specific life situations. The World Health Organization identifies five basic capabilities: satisfying basic needs; learning, developing, and making decisions; maintaining mobility; building and maintaining relationships; and participating in and contributing to society. [7]

This is where healthy aging differs significantly from the idea of "preserving a youthful appearance as long as possible." If a person's hearing has deteriorated, it may be impossible to restore their hearing system to the level of a 25-year-old. However, a properly fitted hearing aid, a suitable acoustic environment, and treatment of associated problems can allow them to continue communicating, working, and participating in social life. From a healthy aging perspective, this is of direct importance because functional capacity is restored or preserved. The WHO's logic allows for the compensation of diminished internal potential through the use of environments, services, products, and technologies. [8]

Concept	What does it mean?	A simple example
Intrinsic capacity	Physical and mental capabilities of the person himself	How well does a person walk, see, hear, and remember?
Environment	Physical, social and organizational environment	Housing, transportation, family, medicine, social services, technology
Functional ability	What a person is capable of doing thanks to a combination of his own abilities and the environment	Live independently, go shopping, communicate, travel, make decisions
Healthy aging	The process of maintaining and developing such a functional ability	The ability to continue to live a meaningful and independent life as we age

Source of concept: World Health Organization. [9]

Healthy aging is not the absence of disease.

This is perhaps the most important part of the definition. Chronic diseases are common in old age, and if healthy aging is defined solely as life without diagnoses, the concept would be inapplicable to a large portion of the older population. Therefore, the modern approach shifts the focus from the question "What diseases are present?" to the more practical question: "How do these diseases affect a person's ability to live the life they want?" [10]

Let's imagine two 75-year-olds. The first has been diagnosed with hypertension and osteoarthritis, but his blood pressure is under control. He leaves the house daily, shops independently, meets with friends, and travels. The second has fewer formal diagnoses, but due to muscle weakness, poor eyesight, and a fear of falling, he rarely leaves his apartment. In traditional logic, one could simply count the number of illnesses; in the logic of healthy aging, the functional differences between these individuals become central.

This doesn't mean that illnesses become unimportant. On the contrary, timely diagnosis and treatment are essential precisely because they help preserve internal potential and functional capacity. However, the goal of medical care for older adults is changing: achieving a good lab result is insufficient if treatment simultaneously causes dizziness, weakness, falls, or complicates the medication regimen so much that the person can no longer cope. Therefore, the WHO views medical care for older adults as personalized and focused on function, rather than just addressing individual illnesses. [11]

The second edition of the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) guidelines, published by WHO on September 22, 2025, builds on this approach. It proposes identifying declining internal capacities, assessing medical and social needs, then developing an individualized plan and monitoring changes over time. [12]

How does healthy aging differ from anti-aging, longevity, and healthspan?

These terms are often used interchangeably, although they don't mean the same thing. Healthy aging is particularly often mistakenly perceived as the medical term for the anti-aging industry—biological age testing, hormonal regimens, nutritional supplements, or rejuvenation procedures. The World Health Organization's concept has a completely different meaning.

Term	The main question
Healthy aging	As people age, do they retain the abilities needed to live a successful and meaningful life?
Longevity	How long does a person live?
Healthspan	What proportion of life does a person spend in good health and with preserved function?
Anti-aging	A broad and non-uniform term for interventions marketed as slowing or reversing age-related changes
Active aging	An earlier WHO framework focusing on health, participation and security

Healthy aging overlaps with the idea of healthspan, but is not entirely synonymous. In geroscience, the term healthspan is typically used to describe the period of life spent in good health; the goal of research is to increase the healthy portion of life, not just the total number of years lived. The WHO definition of healthy aging additionally includes the environment and a person's ability to do what is meaningful to them. [13]

The connection with the concept of active aging is even closer. The World Health Organization has used the active aging framework since the early 2000s, but since 2015, the concept of healthy aging has become its primary focus. Both models recognize the importance of not only medicine but also the social environment, but the modern framework places functional ability as the central outcome dimension. [14]

Healthy aging is also not a promise to "not age." Age-related biological processes continue. A person may become physically slower, use glasses, hearing aids, or medications, and still maintain high functional capacity. The goal is not a biological return to a twenty-year-old state, but rather to minimize the decline in individual functions by reducing the loss of independence and well-being. [15]

Why your environment may be almost as important as your body's state

One of the most insightful ideas of healthy aging is that functional limitations arise not only within the individual. They are formed at the interface between the individual and the environment. This is why the WHO attributes healthy aging to issues of transportation, housing, urban infrastructure, access to medical and social care, technology, and social relationships. [16]

For example, a slight decrease in walking speed has little impact on the independence of a person living near shops and public transportation. The same decrease in mobility can become a serious problem if the nearest shop is two kilometers away, there is no public transportation, and the building is on the fourth floor without an elevator. While the individual's physiological state may be the same, their functional capacity is completely different.

The same logic applies to vision and hearing. Vision correction, hearing technology, good lighting, the absence of dangerous obstacles at home, accessible information, and user-friendly digital services can partially compensate for the decline in sensory function. Therefore, the WHO characterizes age-friendly environments as those that either help develop and maintain internal potential or allow a person to continue meaningful activities despite its decline. [17]

The social environment is no less important. In 2025, the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Connectedness again identified loneliness and social isolation as significant factors in physical and mental health and well-being. Therefore, maintaining relationships is not a decorative "psychological supplement" to healthy aging, but a component of functional well-being. [18]

What is intrinsic capacity and how is it measured?

Intrinsic potential does not refer to a single laboratory indicator or a universal "health percentage." It is a multidimensional characteristic. Within the framework of ICOPE, the World Health Organization suggests paying attention to several key areas, changes in which can gradually limit independence. [19]

There's a subtle terminological nuance here that's often lost in popular articles. Conceptually, intrinsic capacity is typically grouped into five broad domains: locomotor, cognitive, psychological, sensory, and vitality. In the ICOPE assessment, vision and hearing are assessed separately, resulting in six domains: cognitive function, mobility, vitality/nutrition, vision, hearing, and psychological function. [20]

Region	What are they actually trying to save?
Cognitive function	Memory, orientation, ability to understand information and make decisions
Mobility	The ability to stand, walk, change body position and move safely
Vitality	Physiological reserve, closely linked in practical ICOPE assessment, including with nutrition and muscle condition
Vision	The ability to navigate, read, and perform everyday activities safely
Hearing	Ability to perceive speech and maintain communication
Psychological ability	Emotional and mental state, including identification of depressive symptoms

Source: WHO ICOPE, second edition. [21]

It's the dynamics of these functions that often prove more practical for an elderly person than the mere number of illnesses. If a person has begun walking more slowly, eating less well, lost the ability to hear spoken language, or has developed noticeable cognitive impairment, this may be a reason to look for a specific and sometimes correctable cause, rather than declaring deterioration an inevitable part of old age. ICOPE suggests that after the initial identification of the problem, a more in-depth assessment should be conducted and a personalized plan developed. [22]

When does healthy aging begin?

Healthy aging begins long before old age. It's not a program a person must initiate at age 65. The condition of muscles, blood vessels, lungs, bones, brain, and metabolism in old age is partly shaped by previous decades of life, which is why the WHO views healthy aging from a life-course perspective. [23]

This approach doesn't mean that after a certain age it's "too late." Changing physical activity, diet, smoking cessation, treating hypertension, correcting vision or hearing impairments, and adapting the home environment can be helpful even when a person is 70 or 80 years old. The CDC also defines healthy aging as a process that begins throughout life, but emphasizes that positive changes are possible at older ages. [24]

Here, the difference between disease prevention and functional maintenance becomes clear. For example, strength training in one's 40s and 50s helps build a greater reserve of muscle strength before age-related muscle loss becomes more significant. However, starting exercise later can also improve strength and everyday performance. Therefore, healthy aging involves simultaneously building reserves in advance, preventing losses, and compensating for existing limitations. [25]

Physical activity is one of the most proven tools

Regular exercise is particularly important for healthy aging because it impacts several components of functional capacity: endurance, muscle strength, mobility, balance, metabolic health, and mental well-being. The WHO recommends that older adults remain physically active regardless of the presence of certain chronic diseases, adapting their activity to their capabilities and medical limitations. [26]

For adults, the World Health Organization recommends 150-300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, as well as exercise for major muscle groups at least two days per week. For older adults, the importance of multi-component activity, including balance and functional strength training, is additionally increased, especially for those with an increased risk of falls. [27]

But the goal of healthy aging isn't to achieve an abstract athletic standard at any cost. For someone with severe osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, or balance problems, the goal may initially be to safely restore the ability to walk and rise from a chair. The WHO explicitly states that programs should take into account the individual's level of inner potential, chronic conditions, preferences, and goals. [28]

Nutrition is not only for weight control.

In healthy aging, nutrition is important primarily because it supports muscles, bones, metabolism, and physiological reserve. In old age, nutritional goals can even change: inadequate energy and nutrient intake, loss of appetite, and muscle mass become no less significant problems than excess weight. [29]

The WHO associates a healthy diet with sufficient amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, while limiting salt, free sugars, saturated fats, and trans fats. A specific diet should take into account cultural habits, food availability, medical conditions, and individual needs. Current recommendations do not provide a universal "longevity diet" that is the same for everyone. [30]

With age, particular attention is paid to protein, muscle mass, and the risk of undernutrition. However, this does not mean that all older adults need a high-protein diet or protein supplements. The WHO ICOPE guidelines assess nutrition in the context of weight, appetite, muscle function, oral health, medical conditions, and other individual factors. If malnutrition is present, targeted assessment and intervention are required. [31]

Sleep remains part of functional health

The need for sleep doesn't disappear with age. The National Institute on Aging in the United States indicates that older adults, like other adults, typically need approximately 7-9 hours of sleep per night, although sleep patterns may change and factors that can disrupt sleep become more prevalent. [32]

This is important for healthy aging not because sleep is some mystical "rejuvenating" process, but because poor sleep can impact daytime activity, mood, attention, and the risk of falls. If a person consistently wakes up unrefreshed, is noticeably sleepy during the day, or has symptoms of possible sleep apnea, it's wiser to look for the underlying cause rather than dismissing poor sleep as a normal, inevitable part of aging. [33]

The heart and brain cannot be considered separately

Controlling blood pressure, lipids, diabetes, and other cardiovascular factors is important not only for preventing heart attacks and strokes. Vascular health is also linked to brain health, so preventative measures in midlife can have an impact on cognitive function well into adulthood. The National Institute on Aging specifically considers high blood pressure control as a component of maintaining cognitive health. [34]

Healthy aging therefore doesn't pit "natural methods" against drug treatment. If a person truly needs an antihypertensive drug, a statin, diabetes treatment, or another proven method, appropriate therapy can actually help maintain functional capacity while preventing disease complications. The goal isn't the minimum number of pills per se, but the most rational benefit-to-risk ratio.

Moreover, as the number of medications increases, the importance of their periodic review increases. In the current WHO ICOPE 2025 guidelines, medication review is included in the in-depth assessment, since inappropriate medications and polypharmacy can negatively impact several components of intrinsic capacity at once. [35]

Vision and hearing are not minor problems

A person may have well-controlled blood pressure and normal glucose levels, but gradually lose independence because they have difficulty seeing stairs or can no longer distinguish speech. This is why vision and hearing are directly included in the ICOPE assessment. [36]

Correcting sensory impairments can impact more than just the ability to read small print. Poor vision complicates movement and spatial orientation; hearing impairment hinders communication and can contribute to social isolation. The National Institute on Aging recommends identifying and treating age-related hearing and vision impairments as part of cognitive health maintenance efforts. [37]

This is a good example of the healthy aging philosophy: it's not necessary to restore a sensory organ to its biological "youth." Sometimes, it's enough to effectively compensate for the loss of function so that a person can once again do what's essential to them.

Social connections are an integral part of health.

The concept of healthy aging deliberately extends beyond the medical office. The ability to maintain relationships is included in the WHO's five core elements of functional capacity, and social isolation and loneliness are considered independent social determinants of health. [38]

In its 2025 Commission on Social Connectivity report, the World Health Organization emphasizes the link between social isolation and loneliness and adverse physical and mental health outcomes, quality of life, and life expectancy. It is important to distinguish between the two concepts: isolation refers to an objectively low number of social contacts, while loneliness refers to the subjective feeling of a lack of desired connections. A person can live alone and not feel lonely, or be among people and feel isolated. [39]

The practical significance of this section isn't a recommendation to "socialize more" in the same way for everyone. For one person, a good social function might be daily meetings, while for another, it might be a few close relationships, work, volunteering, or regular communication with family. Healthy aging focuses specifically on a person's ability to maintain the relationships and roles they consider meaningful.

Vaccination and preventative medicine are also part of the picture.

Healthy aging cannot be reduced to exercise and nutrition alone. Infection prevention, cancer and cardiovascular screenings, dental care, vision and hearing correction, fall prevention, and chronic disease management reduce the likelihood of events that can dramatically reduce functional reserve.

In 2025, the World Health Organization specifically highlighted the underappreciated role of vaccination of adults and older adults in supporting healthy aging. The specific vaccine schedule and intervals depend on the country, age, disease, and national immunization program, so there is no universal international schedule for every older person. [40]

The same applies to screening. Healthy aging doesn't mean undergoing a "maximum checkup" of dozens of tests and imaging procedures every year. It's more beneficial to undergo proven preventative screenings based on age, gender, medical history, and national guidelines, while simultaneously monitoring for changes in functions that traditional laboratory screening may miss entirely.

How to understand that healthy aging is starting to deteriorate

There's no single number indicating the level of healthy aging in routine medical practice. It's much more informative to look at the trajectory: what a person could do a year or two ago and what they can do now. A sudden decline in mobility, appetite, memory, vision, hearing, or mood deserves attention even when a standard blood test appears normal. The logic of ICOPE is therefore based on early detection of a decline in internal potential and subsequent clarification of the causes. [41]

Change	Why does it matter?	What is reasonable to do?
It has become significantly more difficult to get up from a chair or walk	Loss of strength or mobility may occur.	Assess physical function and causes of deterioration
Unintentional decrease in weight or appetite	There is a risk of malnutrition	Discuss nutrition and the reasons for weight loss with your doctor.
It became difficult to hear the conversation	May impair communication and independence	Check your hearing
Vision began to interfere with movement or reading	Functional limitation increases	Undergo an ophthalmological evaluation
Memory begins to interfere with everyday tasks	This is more than just the usual age-related forgetfulness.	A medical assessment is required.
A man stopped leaving his house due to fear of falling.	A cycle of decreased activity and function may begin	Assess balance, strength, medications, vision, and home environment
Persistent depression or loss of interest has developed	Psychological capacity is part of intrinsic capacity	Discuss the condition with a specialist
The medication regimen has become complicated, weakness or dizziness has appeared	Drug effects or inappropriate combinations are possible	Conduct a medication review

This table is not intended for self-diagnosis. It reflects the functionally oriented logic of ICOPE: the identified problem is a reason to understand the cause, and not a separate diagnosis. [42]

Why "biological age" is not the same as healthy aging

Modern geroscience is actively studying epigenetic clocks, proteomic indicators, metabolic markers, and other methods for measuring biological aging. This is an important area of research, but the estimated biological age (EBA) and healthy aging answer different questions.

A biological marker attempts to assess a specific aspect of age-related changes in the body. Healthy aging asks how capable a person is of living the life they desire. Theoretically, a person could have unfavorable indicators of a certain molecular "age" but excellent mobility, cognitive function, and independence. The opposite is also possible. This is why John Beard, in a paper published in 2026, proposes using intrinsic capacity as a bridge between healthspan research and health indicators that actually matter to humans, while simultaneously emphasizing the need for rigorous measurement methodology. [43]

This is especially important in the era of commercial longevity testing. It's interesting to learn that an algorithm has estimated a person's biological age at "58 instead of 62," but that number alone doesn't predict whether a person will be able to walk independently, communicate, travel, and make decisions in ten years. These abilities are the ultimate goal of healthy aging.

Is it possible to have healthy aging after a serious illness or disability?

Yes. The WHO definition is specifically designed to ensure that healthy aging is not the preserve of perfectly healthy individuals. Functional ability can be maintained even in the presence of a chronic illness or persistent decline in certain abilities, if treatment, rehabilitation, assistive technologies, and the environment allow a person to continue doing the things that are important to them. [44]

For example, a person after a stroke may not regain their previous walking speed, but rehabilitation, a cane, home adaptations, and accessible transportation can restore a significant degree of independence. This still aligns with the logic of healthy aging, as the outcome is assessed not by whether the body has returned to its pre-disease state, but by the maximum possible functional capacity.

This approach helps avoid another mistake: the idea that a person stops "aging successfully" once they become disabled or dependent on care. The WHO emphasizes the need to improve the functional capacity of all older people—from those who are completely independent to those who require significant care. [45]

A practical model of healthy aging

If we translate the WHO concept from the language of public health to the level of an individual, the main thing becomes not the search for a single “secret to longevity,” but the preservation of several reserves simultaneously.

Physical reserve refers to the ability to walk, stand, lift objects, maintain balance, and bear weight. This is why movement and strength training are so important for healthy aging. [46]

Metabolic and physiological reserves are maintained by a balanced diet, abstinence from tobacco, and adequate treatment of illnesses. In older age, it is important not only to prevent obesity but also to address malnutrition, weight loss, and muscle loss. [47]

Cognitive and psychological reserve is not necessarily associated with solving puzzles, but with maintaining the ability to think, learn, make decisions, cope with emotional difficulties, and maintain mental health. Physical activity, treatment of illnesses, adequate sleep, vision and hearing correction, and social engagement are among the factors considered by the National Institute on Aging in relation to cognitive health. [48]

Social and environmental reserves mean the ability to maintain life outside one's own body. Accessible transportation, safe streets, access to digital services, and family and community support can prolong independent living even as physiological capabilities gradually decline. [49]

That's why healthy aging can't be purchased as a single drug, test, or supplement. It's a dynamic system in which the body's condition, medical care, habits, and environment interact throughout life.

What is often misunderstood

"Healthy aging means living to 100." No. Lifespan is important, but the concept is primarily focused on functional capacity and well-being. A person who has lived a very long time but is completely deprived of important functions for many years, and a person with a somewhat shorter lifespan who maintains independence for a long time, exhibit different health trajectories. [50]

"Only a person without disease ages healthily." No. The WHO explicitly states that the absence of disease is not a prerequisite. A controlled chronic illness may have little impact on well-being and functional capacity. [51]

"The most important things are nutrition and exercise." These are very important, but the concept is much broader. Vision, hearing, mood, cognitive function, medications, social support, medical care, and the physical environment can also determine a person's independence. [52]

"Healthy aging is another name for anti-aging." No. The WHO does not define healthy aging as an attempt to reverse biological age. The goal is to maintain a person's ability to live a meaningful life as they age. [53]

"Once function has already declined, it's too late to do anything." This logic also contradicts the healthy aging model. Recovery, treatment, rehabilitation, environmental modification, and assistive technologies can improve functional capacity even without full restoration of internal potential. [54]

Key points from experts

John R. Beard, MBBS, PhD, is the Irene Diamond Professor of Productive Aging at Columbia University and director of the International Longevity Center USA; previously, he is the director of the Ageing and Life Course at the World Health Organization. Beard was one of the lead authors of the WHO conceptual framework, published in The Lancet and forming the basis for the modern definition of healthy aging. This model proposes that health in old age be assessed through functional capacity, formed from a person’s internal potential, the environment, and their interactions, rather than solely through the presence or absence of disease. DOI of the underlying publication: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00516-4. [55]

In a 2026 paper, Beard develops this idea further, proposing intrinsic capacity as a potential outcome that could link geroscience and healthspan research to what directly matters to older adults. However, the author emphasizes the need for conceptual clarity and rigorous measurement methods—that is, the mere appeal of the idea of "measuring health" does not necessarily make existing indicators ready-made clinical tools. [56]

Matteo Cesari, MD, PhD, is a geriatrician and researcher at the World Health Organization's Ageing and Health Unit. In their publications on intrinsic capacity, Cesari and co-authors point out that the traditional medical model, built around individual diseases, poorly reflects the complex needs of older adults. The concept of intrinsic capacity allows for the observation of the fundamental functions that underlie independence and for care to be tailored to the individual's goals. [57]

In a 2026 publication, Cesari et al. view frailty and intrinsic capacity as complementary, rather than competing, concepts. This reflects a broader shift in modern geriatrics from asking "What is the patient's diagnosis?" to asking "What functions are they losing, why is this happening, and what can be preserved or restored?" [58]

Frequently Asked Questions

How to correctly translate healthy aging?

The most natural medical translation is "healthy aging." This is the wording used in Russian-language documents of the World Health Organization. [59]

Are healthy aging and active longevity the same thing?

The concepts overlap considerably, but are not entirely identical. Healthy aging in the WHO model has a specific conceptual basis: intrinsic capacity + environment → functional ability. "Active longevity" is used more broadly in Russian and sometimes refers primarily to the duration of active life. [60]

At what age should one start practicing healthy aging?

There is no age of onset. The WHO uses a life-course approach: the condition in older age is shaped, among other things, by the preceding decades. But it makes sense to begin improving modifiable factors in old age as well. [61]

Can a person at 80 years old be considered to be aging healthily?

Yes. Calendar age alone does not determine this. People of the same age vary enormously in their physical and mental capabilities, and the WHO specifically emphasizes the absence of a "typical older person." [62]

If you have several chronic diseases, is healthy aging no longer possible?

No. Controlled diseases may have relatively little impact on well-being and function. Therefore, healthy aging does not require a complete absence of diagnoses. [63]

What is more important for healthy aging: walking or strength training?

They address different objectives and complement each other. WHO recommendations include both aerobic activity and exercises for major muscle groups; older people also benefit particularly from multi-component work on balance and functional strength. [64]

Can healthy aging be assessed with a blood test?

No. A single blood test does not measure functional capacity. Laboratory tests can identify diseases and risk factors, but the concept of healthy aging includes mobility, cognitive and sensory function, psychological state, social conditions, and environment. [65]

Does biological age indicate the quality of aging better than passport age?

It cannot yet be considered a universal clinical indicator of healthy aging. The biological clock is of interest for aging research, while the WHO functional model evaluates a completely different end result—the abilities a person needs to survive. [66]

Do I need to take special anti-aging supplements?

The very concept of healthy aging does not imply this. Its evidence-based basis is primarily related to the maintenance of functions, physical activity, adequate nutrition, treatment of diseases, mental and social health, and a suitable environment. The use of specific supplements should be considered for medical reasons, not because a person has reached a certain age. [67]

What is the best indicator of how a person is aging?

There is no single ideal indicator yet. From a practical standpoint, the dynamics of human capabilities—mobility, strength, cognitive functions, sensory abilities, nutrition, psychological state, and independence—are particularly informative. It is in this direction that the modern concept of intrinsic capacity is developing. [68]

Main

Healthy aging isn't about fighting all the signs of aging, but rather maintaining the ability to live a life that's meaningful to you. According to the current WHO definition, healthy aging isn't determined by the number of wrinkles, biological age, or even the absence of chronic diseases, but by a person's functional capacity. This capacity arises from a combination of physical and mental capabilities and environmental conditions. [69]

This leads to a practical conclusion: a healthy aging strategy should preserve not just one indicator, but a system of functions. Physical activity helps maintain strength and mobility; nutrition provides physiological reserve; treatment of diseases reduces the likelihood of functional loss; normal sleep supports daytime activity; vision and hearing correction helps maintain independence; social connections and an accessible environment allow continued participation in society.

Therefore, the most meaningful question of healthy aging is not "how to make the body feel young again?" but "what needs to be preserved or changed today so that years from now a person can continue to do what's important to them?" It is this shift from fighting age to preserving function that distinguishes modern healthy aging from most common notions of anti-aging.