Definitions[edit]
.
Official definitions[edit]
Old age
comprises "the later part of life; the period of life after youth and
middle age . . ., usually with reference to deterioration".[8] At
what age old age begins cannot be universally defined because it differs
according to the context. The United Nations has agreed that 65+ years may be
usually denoted as old age[9] and
this is the first attempt at an international definition of old age. However,
for its study of old age in Africa, the World Health Organization(WHO)
set 55 as the beginning of old age. At the same time, the WHO recognized that
the developing world often defines old age, not by years, but by new roles,
loss of previous roles, or inability to make active contributions to society.[10]
Most
developed Western countries set the age of 60 to 65 for retirement. Being 60–65
years old is usually a requirement for becoming eligible for senior social
programs.[11] However,
various countries and societies consider the onset of old age as anywhere from
the mid-40s to the 70s.[12] The
definitions of old age continue to change especially as life expectancy in
developed countries has risen to beyond 80 years old.[13] In
October 2016, a paper published in the science journal Nature presented
the conclusion that the maximum human lifespan is
an average age of 115, with an absolute upper limit of 125 years.[14] However,
the authors' methods and conclusions drew criticism from the scientific
community, who concluded that the study was flawed.[15]