The Retirement Newsletter: Getting old — is seventy the new sixty? (Part three of three)

Issue Number: 198 (51) — the joys of ageing

Photo by Author — out for a healthy walk on a winter’s day

Welcome

This week, in issue 198 (51), I was going to write about the shocking realisation that I have been retired for nearly a year. But two weeks ago, I started writing a newsletter about seventy being the new sixty and things got out of hand. I wrote a huge newsletter that was far too big for one issue. So, I split it over two, and then, as it grew, I realised that I needed to spread it over three newsletters.

Anyway, this is part three of three on the subject of seventy being the new sixty. The other parts are here:

• Issue Number: 196 (49) — Getting old — is seventy the new sixty? (Part one of three)

• Issue Number: 197 (50) — Getting old — is seventy the new sixty? (Part two of three)

In issue 196 (49), I examined ageing at the cellular level. I discussed how cellular damage, metabolic waste accumulation, mitochondrial decline, loss of stem cells, and inflammation and immune system decline can all contribute to the process. I also examined genetic aspects such as genetic programming and telomere shortening. At the end of the newsletter, I asked what we could do to slow these processes.

In the second newsletter in the series (197 (50)), I discussed how we might slow the ageing process by eating a healthy diet, staying active, getting enough sleep, managing our stress, staying hydrated, protecting our skin, staying mentally active, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, being sensible, and getting regular health check-ups.

So, this week in issue 198 (51), I finally address the question — is seventy the new sixty?

Is 70 the new 60?

When I was a kid, someone in their twenties seemed old. I remember my dad turning forty and thinking he was really old. How things change as we age. A person in their twenties appears to be young, and some forty-year-olds are beginning to look (and act) on the young side (and yes, I know that makes me sound like a grumpy old man).

So, is seventy the new sixty? Or is it wishful thinking?

If we accept the argument that our perception of age changes as we age, then it could be that seventy looks like the new sixty as we approach it because that is how we see it. As we pass seventy, being seventy starts to take on the appearance of forty when we were fifty. Does that make sense? Do you agree? Let me know.

However, I don’t think it is all a matter of perception; I think seventy may be the new sixty in measurable health terms. Let’s have a look at it.

First, there is increased life expectancy, which seemed to advance rapidly when I was a kid but has stalled a bit in recent years. Life expectancy has significantly improved thanks to advances in healthcare, our understanding of nutrition, and improved living conditions. Many people in their seventies today are as healthy and active as those in their sixties were in previous generations.

Improvements in medical care and early diagnosis have greatly increased life expectancy. Chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can now be better managed. Advances in joint replacements, cataract surgery, and other medical procedures have also improved mobility and quality of life.

But since it is not all medical, I think we have (or can have) healthier lifestyles. Health education has made us more aware of how diet, exercise, and mental well-being contribute to healthier ageing. I can’t recall my parents or grandparents exercising for health benefits, yet many retirees now go to the gym, take exercise classes or walk or run.

Our attitude toward ageing has also changed. We now see ageing and retirement as a period of opportunity rather than decline. Plus, we stay engaged in work, volunteering, travelling, and pursuing new hobbies longer.

The role of technology and social connectivity should not be overlooked. The Internet and social media help us stay connected, reducing isolation and cognitive decline. Access to information and online healthcare resources also allows for better self-care. We have devices that can automatically alert our healthcare provider and us if we have a medical emergency. In addition, technology can help around the house and allow us to stay independent longer. For example, think of the humble washing machine — could many eighty-year-olds do a full wash by hand and hang it out on the line?

However, it is not all “sunshine and roses,” as not everyone benefits equally. Disparities in healthcare, income, and lifestyle mean that some people in their seventies face significant health challenges. While people may be living longer, some conditions, like dementia and frailty, pose substantial challenges in later years.

In simple terms, yes — I think seventy is the new sixty.

While seventy may be the new sixty for many, it depends on individual circumstances, lifestyle choices, and access to healthcare.

If you are reading this and are over 70, please let me know how you view being 70 in the comments. Was it the new 60? From your post-70 position, does a 70-year-old look like a youngster? Or am I talking absolute nonsense? Please let me know in the comments.

Is it all in the mind?

OK, so our brain and our body age, but does our mind and thinking age?

I was recently out with some friends, and we were discussing getting old. One common theme (apart from the bits of our bodies that no longer work as well as they used to and how we now ache) was “How old do you think you are?”

This simple question — “how old do you think you are?” — is interesting and telling.

Whenever I look in a mirror, I am shocked to see an old man looking back at me. When I go to do anything physical, such as climbing over a fence, I am surprised at how difficult it has become. And yet, in my mind, I think I am still twenty-seven. Why twenty-seven? Well, I think I’m stuck at twenty-seven because of my carer. I was a university lecturer and spent most of my time working with people aged eighteen to thirty; weirdly, I still think I am part of that group.

My friends said pretty much the same thing about their age. They don’t think they are their physical age. The youngest age someone thought they were was about twenty, and the oldest was in their early thirties. The one who thought they were about twenty was also in education.

It’s interesting. Why do we think that? Why do we think we are younger than we are? Has it always been the case that people in their sixties and seventies think they are still in their twenties? Is this thinking down to the age group we spend our time with?

What do you think? How old do you think you are? Please let me know in the comments.

Useful links

Some useful UK mental health links:

• Samaritans phone 116 123 — https://www.samaritans.org

• No Panic (anxiety) 0300 772 9844 — http://www.nopanic.org.uk/

• Non-Emergency NHS Helpline: 111 — https://www.nhs.uk

• Mind — Side by Side — https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk

Some Mental Health Apps you might like to try:

• SAM App — Anxiety Management — https://mindgarden-tech.co.uk/

• Smiling Mind — Mindfulness App — https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app

General Health Websites:

• National Health Service, UK — https://www.nhs.uk/

• National Institute of Heath, USA — https://www.nih.gov/

Next week

Next week, in issue 199 (52), I express great surprise and alarm that I have been retired for one year — where did the time go?

Thanks

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If you want to thank me for the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?

Until next time,

Nick

PS: If you would like to contribute something to the newsletter — a story, advice, or anything else — please get in touch.