Evidence for decline in disability and improved health among persons aged 55 to 70 years: The Framingham Heart Study

Objectives. This study detected secular change in disability and health amo ng persons aged 55 to 70 years, the life period when increases in disabilit y and morbidity begin and retirement occurs. Methods. Cross-sectional comparisons were completed with data from similarl y aged members of the original (n = 1760) and offspring (n = 1688) cohorts of the Framingham Heart Study, which represent 2 generations. Analyses were conducted by gender and on chronic disease subgroups by logistic regressio n. Results. There was substantially less disability in the offspring cohort than in the original cohort. Thirty-six percent of offspring men were disa bled vs 52% of original cohort men (P =.001); among women, these proportion s were 54% vs 72% (P =.001). Fewer offspring perceived their health as fair or poor and fewer had chronic diseases. Offspring were more physically act ive and less likely to smoke or consume high amounts of alcohol, but their average weight was greater. The secular decline in disability was strongly evident among individuals with chronic diseases. Conclusions. Our findings depict a secular change toward a less disabled an d globally healthier population in the period of life when retirement occur s.