rejuvinotes

A healthy old age: realistic or futile goal? Marion E T McMurdo,  professor of ageing and health Additional article information The undreamed of improvements in average life expectancy in the 20th century have thrust ageing to the forefront of attention, and more old people are alive today than at any time in history. People over 60 currently constitute a fifth of the UK population and will constitute one third by 2030 (figure). Though increasing life expectancy is hailed by some as one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, a more common reaction is a doom-laden prediction of health and social budgets being drained by caring for dependent old people. Indeed some have argued that directing resources away from old people can be justified. 1  Sensible debate about the impact of the changing age structure of the population has been hampered by media coverage edged with hysteria. Of course, we need to consider how to care for the growing number of old people, but this aspect has