Lifestyle predictors of healthy ageing in men

Abstract

With ageing populations a major challenge is to maintain physical and cognitive function, quality of life and independence. The literature does not only indicate important gender differences in lifestyle behaviours, but also how these behaviours might affect health outcomes. The current review has a male perspective when exploring lifestyle predictors of healthy ageing, such as physical activity and sedentary behaviours, smoking, diet and alcohol consumption. This review shows that not only do men with healthy lifestyles survive longer, but also with good health and disability is postponed and compressed into fewer years at the end of life. It is also clear that physical activity and smoking in midlife and late adulthood impact and predict healthy ageing in men. However, healthy ageing has no clear phenotypic definition and more research is needed to establish the impact on dietary and sedentary behaviours on healthy ageing in men. Adoption of healthier lifestyles could result in postponement of age associated diseases and/or the slowing down of the ageing process. Consequently, this allows independent living for a longer period of time and would reduce the burden to social and health care sectors.