Physicians at the Mayo Clinic are working to change how clinicians and patients think about aging, with a new focus on “healthspan” – the years of life spent in good health, with preserved function, cognition, and independence. A new publication outlines a framework for healthspan, coauthored by Christina Chen, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician in internal medicine and geriatrics, and Sara Bonnes, M.D.
Healthspan emphasizes the quality of life during those years, rather than just the number of years lived. It is distinct from lifespan or longevity.
Patients often say they want to live to be 100, but living longer is not necessarily the same as living well, and healthspan is about how well you live during those years, according to Dr. Chen.
Healthspan is about the ability to function independently, think clearly, and maintain a good quality of life.
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The distinction between healthspan and lifespan matters now because doctors have been successful at extending lifespan, but less effective at preserving the quality of those added years, resulting in a growing gap between years lived and years lived well. This gap is something clinicians see every day in clinical practice, where many people are living longer with chronic disease, reduced mobility, cognitive impairment, and increasing dependence.
Clinicians are missing the focus on functional abilities, cognitive health, and the ability to remain independent at home, which are the things patients value most.
Traditional measures like lab values or survival rates do not tell us whether someone can manage their daily activities, stay socially connected, or continue living safely and independently.
Healthspan can be measured in clinical practice by incorporating additional domains like physical function, cognitive health, and independence, using practical tools like gait speed, grip strength, balance assessments, cognitive screening, and patient-reported outcomes. These measures can be used to guide clinical decisions and track patients’ progress over time, giving a clearer picture of how patients are actually doing.
A focus on healthspan could change patient care by shifting the goal of care toward helping patients stay independent, mobile, and clear-minded for as long as possible, and framing care around preserving function, cognition, and overall well-being. It would also change how clinicians talk to patients, instead of focusing only on treating disease, they can discuss how to preserve function, cognition, and overall well-being, so patients can live well with dignity.
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They should think about care differently, by changing the conversation and asking how to help patients live well, what their goals are, and how to help them reach those goals.
Small changes.
The next steps for this research include making healthspan something that can be measured and tracked in everyday clinical practice.
For more information on the study, including a complete list of authors, disclosures, and funding, the full report can be found on the National Library of Medicine website, where researchers can find detailed information on women’s health and other topics.