Baby boomers live longer but with declining health compared to previous generations

New research has found that the baby boomer generation is now living longer but has worse health than previous generations.

A global study highlighted the baby boomer generation, who are born between 1946 to 1964, are more likely to have serious health problems than older generations. Experts at the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) have also highlighted that illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other diseases are now affecting people at younger ages.

According to the findings published in the Journals of Gerontology, the study has found rates of illness and disability have increased in younger generations meaning they have worse health than previous generations at the same age.

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Lead author, Laura Gimeno, of UCL has highlighted 'generational health drift' as she explained: "Even with advances in medicine and greater public awareness about healthy living, people born since 1945 are at greater risk of chronic illness and disability than their predecessors.

"With up to a fifth of the population in high-income western nations now over 65, increasing demands for health and social care will have huge implications on government spending."

The study analysed health data for more than 100,000 people between 2004 and 2018 across Europe, USA and England. The research identified increasing rates of chronic disease in those born between 1955 to 1959 compared to those born between 1936 and 1945. It also noted that rates of chronic disease have risen across successive generations in all regions. This means more recently born adults are more likely to have cancer, lung disease, heart issues, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol than the older generations at the same age.

Additionally those in England and Europe had higher rates of cancer diagnoses, heart problems and high cholesterol compared to other regions. Those in their 50s in England and Europe were identified as being 1.5 times more likely to have these issues than their predecessors at the same age.

Signs of healthy ageing such as levels of grip strength and a good measure of overall muscle strength have decreased across England and the US, whilst remaining constant in Europe. The study pointed out that older generations, including the postwar generations, were just as likely or more likely to struggle with tasks such as bathing, eating, walking short distances and shopping for groceries.

Gimeno added: "Our study finds concerning new evidence that more recently born generations are experiencing worsening health as they enter their later years. Despite declining rates of disability for the prewar generations, chronic disease and increasing obesity may be spilling over into severe disability for the baby boomers.

"If life expectancy remains stable or continues to increase, these worrying trends may see younger generations spending more years in poor health and living with disability."