As health professionals and researchers, we often focus on advising people how to live longer, healthier lives: eat better, exercise more, sleep well, and manage stress. I include myself in this, and there is plenty of scientific evidence to support such advice.
But how often do we stop to think about what longevity means to us, how we feel about growing older, and what we truly want from a longer life?
The Global Longevity Survey 2024, conducted by the Oxford Longevity Project and Roundglass, did just that. It asked 14,000 adults across 25 countries about their expectations, priorities and feelings toward aging.
What I find particularly interesting about this survey is that, rather than telling us how to live longer, it asks us what we think about longevity, what matters to us, and what worries us about growing older. And perhaps, despite our different cultures and circumstances, we have more in common than we imagine.
The findings are fascinating. While 37.4% of respondents said they would like to live forever, exactly the same proportion said they would not. Almost two-thirds recognized the importance of a holistic approach to longevity, including physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing.
When asked about their strategies for living longer, 58% selected nutrition and 52.2% physical fitness, compared with just 10.8% who selected community engagement.
This caught my attention. Beyond scientific evidence and expert advice, perhaps we should listen more carefully to what makes people happy, what they value, and what gives meaning to their lives.
Now it’s your turn. What do you think about aging and living well? to. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
How long would you like to live? What matters most to you as you grow older? What makes those years meaningful and fulfilling?
Take our short questionnaire and share your perspective. There are no right or wrong answers. This time, we're listening:
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