Why aging is not a "disease"

In much of society today, the drawbacks, rather than the benefits, of aging are emphasized. In television and other media, older adults are portrayed as being lonely, decrepit, close-minded, and ill, among other ageist stereotypes. These cliches also saturate advertising for the anti-aging industry, which has worked to exacerbate insecurities about aging to sell products that will “cure” the “disease” of growing old.

Simply defined, aging is the process of growing older. And the passage of time is not a disease; it is a completely natural aspect of life that affects every single person. Just like being young offers both freedoms and limitations, being older has its own benefits and drawbacks. 

The widespread portrayal of older adults as stereotypes of everything undesirable can have very harmful consequences both on an individual and societal basis. Individually, ageist stereotypes can lead to negative self-image, overspending on anti-aging products, and internalized ageism at home, in the workplace, and in one’s broader community. Societally, ageist stereotypes fuel exploitative markets, promote age discrimination in the workplace, and limit effective age-friendly policies. 

Increasingly, governments and organizations have worked to change the paradigm of viewing aging as a disease. The World Health Organization, among others, has worked to understand the most pervasive ageist myths in order to dispel them. The following are some of the most common:

These findings—that older adults are the least lonely age group, are largely independent, and still contribute significantly to the economy—demonstrate that much of what we are made to believe about older adults in our lives and our own futures is simply false. Aging does not equate to unhappiness, lack of productivity, or illness.

However, it is true that aging often correlates to physical health issues, including heart attack, stroke, diabetes, etc. Importantly, while these issues are currently associated with aging, they are not necessarily caused by aging itself. And as technology and medicine further advance, diseases associated with aging are becoming more treatable. Thus, aging with minimal disease and a good quality of life is very possible.

The idea that aging itself is not the issue can also be demonstrated when considering the increase in life span over time. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth for all sexes in 1900 was 47.3 years old, while in 2017 it was 78.6 years old. This means that in a span of 117 years, life expectancy increased by 66%.

As diseases are increasingly prevented and treated early, life span continues to increase. But no matter how long the average life span is expanded, aging is an inescapable aspect of life. Thus, it’s important to look at aging (which is only becoming a longer process) with a more positive attitude than is typical in society today in order to improve your quality of life. 

Once one is able to get beyond the fear of aging, it becomes much easier to appreciate its benefits. And there are, in fact, many benefits of the aging process, some of which include wisdom, experience, time, a stable sense of community, strong family relationships, and even financial benefits from government and nonprofit organizations. Asking older individuals what they see as the positive side of aging could lead to a great conversation (albeit with a little sarcasm, too).

Ultimately, by seeing aging not as a disease, but as a natural process and an opportunity for growth, one can look forward to the future not just with tranquility, but with optimism.

— Rachael Alberts