Britons retiring are set to get a big boost as 70 has become the new 60, scientists say

It will be a great incentive for those who are retiring; According to researchers, 70 has become the new 60.

A new study reveals significant improvements in the health of older adults in England compared to previous generations.

A team of scientists used data from the English Longitudinal Study on Aging to see how trends have changed over time.

But instead of just focusing on health in terms of disease, they used a new approach that examined trends in people’s functioning.

This included things like their thinking and memory skills, how easily they can walk and move, their sense of sight and smell, and their psychological capabilities.

Analysis has shown that older adults today experience higher levels of physical and mental functioning than previous generations did at the same age.

For example, a 68-year-old born in 1950 had similar ability to a 62-year-old born ten years earlier, and those born in 1940 functioned better than those born in 1930 or 1920.

The researchers say that improvements in education, nutrition and sanitation over the course of the twentieth century likely played a key role.

Analysis has found that older adults today experience higher levels of physical and mental functioning (file image)

Medical advances, such as joint replacements and better treatments for chronic conditions, likely also played a role.

“We were surprised by how big these improvements were, especially when we compared people born after the Second World War with groups born earlier,” says John.

Beard, professor of aging at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in the United States.

“If we had compared someone born in 1950 with someone born in 1920, we would probably have seen even greater improvements.”

The team cautioned that there is no indication that these improvements will continue, and that changes such as the increasing prevalence of obesity may even see these trends begin to reverse.

‘It is also likely that more advantaged groups will have made greater gains than others,’ Dr Beard added.

‘But overall the trends were very strong and suggest that for many people 70 could be the new 60.’

The researchers say improvements in education, nutrition and sanitation played a key role over the course of the twentieth century (file image)

Commenting on the study, Jay Olshansky, an aging expert from the University of Illinois, said: ‘This is a powerful article.

‘It shows that intrinsic capacity – which is really important for people as they age – is inherently adaptable.

“With this evidence, we see that medical science can increase intrinsic capacity, which could provide a hopeful message for the future.”

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Aging.