Premature signs of aging, aided and abetted by pain, are only one of many potential problems facing Baby Boomers heading into their golden years. New research from UCLA suggests Baby Boomers in their 60s may suffer far more complications from disabilities in comparison to previous generations.
Scientists studied two data sets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) to compare how the incidence of disability among three different age groups (60-69, 70-79, and 80-and-older) changed over time, paying attention to various disability trends, including functional limitations (kneeling or crouching), mobility (walking a quarter-mile without stopping), instrumental activities (preparing meals or doing household chores) and basic daily living activities (getting out of or into bed or walking around the house).
The amount of problems reported among Baby Boomers in the 60-69 age bracket exploded between 40-70 percent in three of four disability trends (all but functional limitations). And, these problems weren't escalating among folks in the 70-79 and 80-and-older brackets either.
These disturbing trends may be linked to big changes already happening in America, especially with rapid growth among Hispanics and African-Americans, two demographic groups who suffer from lower social-economic status and far greater rates of obesity, two factors associated with higher risks of disabilities and functional limitations.
American Journal of Public Health November 12, 2009
Contra Costa Times November 12, 2009
ScienceDaily November 13, 2009
healthfinder.gov November 13, 2009