Sixty really is the new forty.
Compared with their parents, today’s 60‑somethings simply don’t feel—or function—nearly as “old.” The booming anti‑aging industry, now worth roughly $40 billion and projected to top $60 billion by 2032, reflects our collective desire to push back the clock with wrinkle creams, supplements, weight training, and more. Yet researchers say the line between middle age and old age is far blurrier than most of us realize.
“Chronological age—the number on your birthday cake—tells only part of the story,” explains Eric Verdin, president of California’s Buck Institute for Research on Aging. “Your biological age, which mirrors how well your cells and tissues are functioning, can vary tremendously from one person to the next.”
Old Age Keeps Moving Up
A recent Psychology and Aging study led by Markus Wettstein of Humboldt University in Berlin shows that middle‑aged and older adults now feel younger than people the same age did 10–20 years ago. Longer life spans partly explain the shift, but so do cultural attitudes:
People delay labeling themselves “old” because the word carries negative baggage—especially in Western societies where youthful looks are prized.
In many Eastern cultures, by contrast, aging is linked to wisdom and respect.
How We’ve Defined “Old” Over Time
Historically, someone’s usefulness to family or community determined whether they were viewed as elderly. During the Industrial Age, however, formal retirement ages (now 62 on average in the U.S.) made the calendar—not capability—the yardstick. That 60–65 window has barely budged, even as life expectancy and medical advances soared.
The stakes are high: aging remains the single biggest risk factor for chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Nearly 95 percent of Americans over 60 live with at least one chronic disease, and roughly 80 percent manage two or more.
Why the Calendar Isn’t Enough
Modern science still lacks a universal “aging meter.” Puberty and menopause have clear biological markers; old age does not. Researchers track clues—grip strength, cholesterol patterns, DNA damage—but no gold‑standard test exists. Aging, Verdin emphasizes, “happens along a continuum rather than at a sudden cliff.”
Complicating matters, major life stressors or lingering illnesses can accelerate biological wear and tear, meaning two 60‑year‑olds may have wildly different cellular ages.
The Cost of Ageism
Negative stereotypes don’t just hurt feelings—they shorten lives. Yale researcher Becca Levy links ageist beliefs to worse physical, mental, and cognitive health. Her calculations peg the annual U.S. price tag for ageism at about $63 billion in excess health costs. Conversely, positive views of aging correlate with better overall well‑being.
Enter the “Superagers”
Some individuals maintain sharp minds and strong bodies well into their seventies and beyond. Studying these superagers could unlock ways to stretch everyone’s health span—the disease‑free portion of life.
Breakthroughs are mounting:
Cellular reprogramming can return aged cells to a more youthful state.
Senolytic drugs sweep out “zombie” cells that stoke inflammation.
Diet strategies such as intermittent fasting show promise for extending life and vitality.
Looking Ahead
By 2050, one‑third of the global population will be 60 or older. As Verdin puts it, “If we can give people extra years of good health, we’ll not only reshape medicine but also change how society views aging itself.”
In other words, the real question may no longer be when old age begins—but how long we can delay its downsides while embracing the wisdom that comes with the years.
