Healthy ageing is shaped by a wide range of factors that influence our lives over time, from physical health and mental wellbeing to social engagement and independence.
Beyond maintaining physical health, ageing well also involves supporting cognitive function, emotional resilience, and the ability to adapt to life’s changes.
The foundations of healthy ageing are laid early in life, with our diet, lifestyle and environment, as well as behaviours from childhood and early adulthood playing a significant role in shaping outcomes later on. By recognising that ageing is a lifelong process, there are opportunities to promote health, prevent inequalities, and build resilience from a young age, helping individuals to live well for longer.
I started my career as a geriatrician and I realised that ageing starts when we’re very young. We can do a lot earlier in life to help change our futures.