The elderly in Japan are becoming younger physically, with their athletic abilities improving. Data showing their health status can be seen in the “New Physical Fitness Test” and the “Walking Survey” of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology. From the progress of the New Physical Fitness Test, elderly men have become about 5 years younger and women about 10 years younger physically over the past 20 years. Looking at the scores by age group, there is a clear upward trend for both men and women over 65 years old. Another indicator is walking. Regarding walking speed, it drops sharply after the age of 50 for both men and women. There are statistics that show that people who can walk fast have a mortality rate that is one-fifth lower than those who walk slowly.
People who can walk are able to maintain a positive mentality and also have the characteristic of a low mortality rate. The report of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology suggests some interesting data on the basic human movement of “walking.” Comparing 2007 and 2017, the speed of both men and women in all 5-year increments from 65 to 89 years old has increased. In the 80-84 age group, men’s speed has improved from 1.15 m/s to 1.23 m/s, and women’s speed has improved from 1.09 m/s to 1.21 m/s. These two pieces of data suggest a bright future for the lifespan and health of Japanese seniors.
There are several possible reasons why the elderly are becoming physically younger. From around their 50s, when retirement comes into view, many people become more conscious of the importance of health. It seems that around this time, many people start to develop healthy habits that pay attention to diet and exercise. The increase in health information targeted at these people is also said to be a factor in the rejuvenation. One of these is the increase in health information for seniors, such as preventing dementia and falls. As a result, more seniors are paying attention to preventing dementia and falls. This effect is also reflected in the numbers. Analysis of the Basic Survey on National Living Conditions shows that the percentage of people aged 65 to 74 who complain of back pain and forgetfulness is decreasing year by year. With the increase in the retirement age, an increasing number of companies are actively hiring older people. The increase in the employment rate of people aged 65 and over is possible by focusing on maintaining and improving their physical strength. Furthermore, factors such as increased social activity and improved nutritional status also seem to be involved. It has become clear that maintaining contact with society for a long time is further promoting the improvement of physical conditions.
