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Predictors of healthy aging: Prospective evidence from the Alameda County Study

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  • Guralnik, J.M.
  • Kaplan, G.A.

Abstract

Long-term predictors of high levels of physical functioning were examined in a representative sample of Alameda County, California residents followed from 1965 through 1984. The cohort investigated in this study was born between 1985 and 1919, with survivors being age 65 to 89 at the time of follow-up. A scale of physcial functioning was developed from a comprehensive set of questionnaire items which assessed the full spectrum of physical functioning. Those scoring in the top 20 percent, defined as healthy aging, were compared to the remainder of the cohort, including those who died and those with lower levels of functioning at follow-up. After adjustment for age and functional status at baseline, the following variables were predictive of high functioning at follow-up 19 years later: race (those not Black), higher family income level, absence of hypertension, absence of arthritis, absence of back pain, being a non-smoker, having normal weight, and consuming moderate amounts of alcohol. Sex did not predict high function because of the counterbalancing effects of higher survival in females but greater likelihood of high functioning among surviving males.

Suggested Citation

  • Guralnik, J.M. & Kaplan, G.A., 1989. "Predictors of healthy aging: Prospective evidence from the Alameda County Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 79(6), pages 703-708.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1989:79:6:703-708_0
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    Cited by:

    1. Edlira Gjonça & Paola Zaninotto, 2008. "Blame the parents? The association between parental longevity and successful ageing," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(38), pages 1435-1450.
    2. Antonios Garas & Sophie Guthmuller & Athanasios Lapatinas, 2021. "The development of nations conditions the disease space," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-35, January.
    3. Catherine Ross & John Mirowsky, 1999. "Refining the association between education and health: The effects of quantity, credential, and selectivity," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 36(4), pages 445-460, November.
    4. Parminder Raina & Micheline Wong, 2002. "Understanding the Relationship between Income Status and the Restrictions in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living among Disabled Older Adults," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 83, McMaster University.
    5. Parminder Raina & Steven Dukeshire & Margaret Denton & Larry W. Chambers & Andria Scanlan & Amiram Gafni & Susan French & Anju Joshi & Carolyn Rosenthal, 1999. "Disability Related Sources of Income and Expenses: An Examination Among the Elderly in Canada," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 8, McMaster University.
    6. Thorpe Jr., Roland James & Kasper, Judith D. & Szanton, Sarah L. & Frick, Kevin D. & Fried, Linda P. & Simonsick, Eleanor M., 2008. "Relationship of race and poverty to lower extremity function and decline: Findings from the women's health and aging study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(4), pages 811-821, February.
    7. Warner, David F. & Brown, Tyson H., 2011. "Understanding how race/ethnicity and gender define age-trajectories of disability: An intersectionality approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(8), pages 1236-1248, April.
    8. Christian Salas, 2002. "On the empirical association between poor health and low socioeconomic status at old age," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(3), pages 207-220, April.
    9. Lo, Te-Fen & Hsieh, Chee-Ruey, 2013. "Dynamic profile of health investment and the evolution of elderly health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 134-142.
    10. Margie E Lachman & Stefan Agrigoroaei, 2010. "Promoting Functional Health in Midlife and Old Age: Long-Term Protective Effects of Control Beliefs, Social Support, and Physical Exercise," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-9, October.

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