We throw around terms like “lifespan,” “healthspan,” and “longevity” as if they’re interchangeable. They’re not—and this confusion has profound consequences for how we approach aging, both personally and as a society. Understanding these distinctions isn’t academic hairsplitting; it fundamentally changes how we design healthcare systems, evaluate interventions, and make personal health decisions.
The Language Problem That’s Costing Us Years of Health
The medical community and public health experts witness the consequences of this confusion daily. Patients celebrate medical advances that promise to extend life, while missing the critical question: what kind of life are we extending? Policymakers allocate billions based on life expectancy statistics, potentially missing declines in population well-being. Researchers design interventions targeting mortality without considering function.
This isn’t just imprecise language—it’s a fundamental misunderstanding that shapes how we age as individuals and as a society. We’re living in an era of unprecedented medical advances. Life expectancy has nearly doubled since 1900, and headlines regularly proclaim breakthroughs in “anti-aging” research. But here’s the uncomfortable truth we need to confront: adding years to life isn’t the same as adding life to years.
Defining Our Terms: Why Precision Matters
Lifespan is the most straightforward concept—it’s the total number of years you live, from birth to death. At the population level, we measure this as life expectancy. It’s objective, easily measured, and binary: you’re either alive or dead. This simplicity makes it attractive for research and policy, but it tells us nothing about the quality of those years.
Healthspan is where things get complex. A systematic review by Masfiah et al. (2025) identified 113 different definitions of healthspan in the scientific literature—a stunning lack of consensus that undermines our ability to measure progress. Most researchers define healthspan as the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease and disability that significantly impact daily functioning. But what constitutes “good health”?
Some studies define healthspan’s end as the onset of the first chronic disease. Others focus on functional capacity—can you climb stairs, manage finances, live independently? Still others incorporate quality of life measures, psychological well-being, or biomarkers of aging. This variability isn’t just an academic problem; it affects how we evaluate interventions, compare populations, and make policy decisions.
Longevity might be the most misunderstood term. Sometimes it’s used synonymously with lifespan. Increasingly, however, it refers to exceptional aging—living to advanced ages while maintaining health and function. In the emerging field of “longevity medicine,” the focus is on extending the healthy period of life, not merely adding years at the end.
The Measurement Challenge: Why We Can’t Compare Apples to Apples
Here’s something that might surprise you: despite decades of aging research, we still don’t have universally accepted metrics for healthspan. While lifespan offers a clear endpoint, healthspan exists on a spectrum influenced by cultural context, individual expectations, and healthcare resources.
Research using the Pace of Aging metric by Balachandran et al. (2025) shows promise for population surveillance, yet these metrics struggle to distinguish early-life changes from aging-specific changes. Some researchers use the onset of the first chronic disease as the end of healthspan. Others look at functional capacity—can you climb stairs, manage your finances, live independently? Still others incorporate quality of life measures, psychological well-being, or biomarkers of aging.
This lack of standardization isn’t just an academic problem. It affects how we evaluate interventions, compare populations, and make policy decisions. The situation is even more complicated when we consider global perspectives. What constitutes healthy aging in rural Bangladesh might differ significantly from standards in urban Tokyo or suburban Atlanta. Yet most of our research and policy frameworks come from wealthy Western nations, potentially missing crucial insights from diverse populations.
The Gap Nobody Talks About—And Why It’s Secondary to Definitions
Once we understand these distinctions, the much-discussed “healthspan-lifespan gap” emerges not as the primary problem, but as a symptom of our definitional confusion. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications Medicine (January 2025) by Garmany and Terzic mapped this gap across 183 World Health Organization member states, revealing that globally, the average person experiences a 9-10 year gap between their total lifespan and their healthspan. For women, this gap is even larger.
What makes the Garmany and Terzic study particularly compelling is its regional analysis. The healthspan-lifespan gap isn’t uniform across the globe—it varies significantly by region, suggesting that cultural, economic, and healthcare system factors all play crucial roles. Some regions have successfully compressed morbidity into a shorter period, while others see their populations spending increasingly longer periods managing chronic conditions. This variation proves that the gap isn’t inevitable—it’s modifiable through the right interventions.
Think about what this means: a decade of life potentially spent managing multiple chronic conditions, experiencing functional decline, and navigating an increasingly complex healthcare system. This isn’t the retirement our parents envisioned, and it certainly shouldn’t be the future we accept.
The Science of Foods That Impact Healthspan
While much attention has focused on caloric restriction and fasting, emerging research reveals specific foods and their compounds that may bridge the healthspan-lifespan gap. A comprehensive review by Park et al. (2023) synthesized over 400 studies on foods that promote longevity and healthspan, revealing fascinating patterns.
Berries lead the evidence base, accounting for 13% of all food-related lifespan studies. Blueberry extracts rich in anthocyanidins have been shown to extend lifespan in model organisms by approximately 10% through enhanced antioxidant enzyme expression. Cranberry extracts demonstrate similar effects, with studies showing protection against oxidative stress and neurodegenerative changes. These aren’t just laboratory curiosities—cohort studies suggest that regular berry consumption correlates with reduced all-cause mortality and improved cognitive function in aging populations.
The Mediterranean diet emerges as a comprehensive dietary pattern that narrows the healthspan-lifespan gap. This predominantly plant-based eating pattern centers on olive oil as the primary fat source, with high consumption of vegetables (especially leafy greens, tomatoes, artichokes), fruits (citrus, berries, pomegranates), whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It includes moderate consumption of fish and seafood, low to moderate intake of poultry, eggs, and dairy (mainly cheese and yogurt), and low intake of red and processed meats. Wine is consumed moderately, typically with meals. The emphasis on fresh, seasonal, local, and minimally processed foods—often prepared simply as salads, stews, or raw—distinguishes this pattern from other diets.
Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrate that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is consistently linked to both increased lifespan and improved healthspan. Studies show that individuals with greater adherence experience a delay in mortality by 6–8 years and a lower risk of frailty and disability, indicating more years lived in good health, not just longer life. The diet’s benefits are attributed to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and gut microbiome-modulating properties, which target the cellular and molecular hallmarks of aging.
Green tea and its components represent another well-studied category. The compound EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) has shown remarkable effects in extending lifespan in animal models by inhibiting inflammatory pathways and activating longevity-associated genes like FOXO and SIRT1. A long-term study in rats showed that EGCG supplementation extended lifespan by approximately 11% while improving liver and kidney function—organs particularly vulnerable to age-related decline.
Polyphenol-rich foods show consistent benefits across studies. Cocoa polyphenols delayed age-related brain damage and extended lifespan in animal models. Apple polyphenols increased mean lifespan by 39% in C. elegans studies, with combined apple and blueberry extracts showing synergistic effects. Orange extracts, particularly those rich in hesperidin, demonstrated lifespan extension through improved antioxidant status and regulation of aging-related genes.
But here’s the critical point: most of these studies have been conducted in model organisms like C. elegans and Drosophila. While valuable for understanding mechanisms, we need more human clinical trials to confirm these effects translate to our species.
Why the Distinction Matters for Policy
The implications of confusing lifespan with healthspan extend far beyond academic debates. They shape how governments allocate healthcare resources, how insurance companies design coverage, and how societies prepare for demographic transitions.
The Nature Communications Medicine study provides crucial evidence for policymakers. As Garmany and Terzic note, focusing solely on lifespan can mask declines in quality of life, while healthspan metrics better capture population well-being and the effectiveness of interventions. Their analysis of 183 countries reveals that some interventions extend lifespan without proportionally increasing healthspan, potentially prolonging frailty and healthcare burden.
Consider the economics: extending lifespan without improving healthspan doesn’t reduce healthcare costs—it potentially increases them. More years of managing chronic conditions means more medications, more hospitalizations, more long-term care. The burden falls not just on healthcare systems but on families, communities, and individuals themselves.
The regional variations identified in the study suggest this isn’t an inevitable consequence of aging. Some regions have been more successful at compressing morbidity—keeping the period of illness and disability short relative to total lifespan. Understanding what these regions are doing right could inform policy interventions globally.
The policy implications are profound. If we focus solely on life expectancy as a measure of population health, we might miss critical declines in population well-being. Countries might climb rankings for longevity while their citizens spend increasing years in poor health. This is already happening in some developed nations, where life expectancy gains have slowed or reversed while years spent with disability continue to increase.
The Research We Need
The scientific community is beginning to recognize these distinctions. The concept of “geroscience”—understanding the biological mechanisms of aging to extend healthspan—is gaining traction. Organizations like the World Health Organization are developing frameworks that prioritize functional ability and well-being, not just survival.
The Garmany and Terzic study represents exactly the kind of research we need more of—comprehensive, global analyses that don’t just identify problems but point toward solutions. By mapping the healthspan-lifespan gap across different regions and identifying patterns, this research provides a foundation for targeted interventions. The study advocates for healthspan-centered policies to ensure that added years are lived in good health, not just longer.
But we need more. We need standardized, culturally sensitive measures of healthspan that can be applied across diverse populations. We need longitudinal studies that track not just mortality but functional trajectories over decades. We need intervention trials that explicitly target healthspan, not just lifespan, as primary endpoints.
Perhaps most importantly, we need to shift our cultural narrative around aging. The goal isn’t to live forever or to deny the reality of aging. It’s to compress morbidity—to push disease and disability into an increasingly smaller portion of the lifespan. Imagine if those 9-10 years currently spent managing chronic disease could be transformed into years of vitality, purpose, and engagement.
Personal Implications: What This Means for You
Understanding these distinctions isn’t just academically interesting—it should fundamentally change how you approach your own health and aging. If your doctor is only tracking traditional risk factors for mortality, you’re missing half the picture. You need to be asking about functional trajectories, about maintaining cognitive capacity, about preserving the abilities that matter for your quality of life.
The evidence on specific dietary interventions is compelling. Regular consumption of polyphenol-rich foods—berries, green tea, cocoa, citrus fruits—shows consistent associations with improved healthspan markers. The Mediterranean diet pattern shows particularly strong evidence for narrowing the healthspan-lifespan gap. But it’s not just about adding “superfoods” to your diet. The timing and pattern of eating matter too. Time-restricted eating and intermittent fasting show promise for extending healthspan independent of weight loss effects.
The interventions that extend healthspan aren’t always the same as those that extend lifespan. Exercise, for instance, might add only modest years to life expectancy, but it dramatically improves functional capacity, cognitive performance, and quality of life in later years. Social engagement, purpose in life, and continued learning show similar patterns—modest effects on mortality but profound impacts on healthy aging.
The Path Forward
The distinction between lifespan, healthspan, and longevity isn’t semantic hairsplitting—it’s fundamental to how we understand and address aging in the 21st century. We’re at a critical juncture where medical technology can extend life far beyond what previous generations imagined. The question is whether we’ll use this power wisely.
The evidence from the Nature Communications Medicine study suggests we haven’t been. The healthspan-lifespan gap represents one of the great failures of modern medicine—we’ve become excellent at preventing death without becoming equally good at preserving health. This needs to change.
For researchers, this means developing better tools to measure and track healthspan, designing interventions that explicitly target functional outcomes, and studying diverse populations to understand the full spectrum of healthy aging. The regional differences identified by Garmany and Terzic provide natural experiments we can learn from.
For policymakers, it means moving beyond life expectancy as the primary metric of population health, investing in preventive interventions that maintain function, and redesigning healthcare systems to support healthy aging rather than just treating disease. The study’s call for region-informed solutions and health-centric system reform provides a clear direction.
For healthcare providers, it means having honest conversations with patients about quality versus quantity of life, prescribing interventions that preserve function, and recognizing that the goal isn’t always to extend life at any cost.
And for individuals, it means taking ownership of your healthspan. The choices you make today—about exercise, nutrition, social engagement, and purpose—might not dramatically change when you die, but they’ll profoundly affect how you live in your later years.
A New Vision for Aging
We need to fundamentally reimagine what successful aging looks like. It’s not about denying mortality or pursuing endless youth. It’s about maintaining vitality, purpose, and engagement for as long as possible, then experiencing a relatively brief period of decline. This “rectangularization” of the survival curve—living well until near the end of life—should be our collective goal.
The comprehensive global analysis by Garmany and Terzic shows us both the magnitude of the challenge and the possibility of progress. With some regions showing smaller healthspan-lifespan gaps, we have proof that this gap isn’t fixed—it can be narrowed through the right combination of medical care, public health interventions, and social policies.
This vision is achievable, but it requires us to be precise about what we’re measuring, honest about what we’re optimizing for, and willing to challenge assumptions about aging that no longer serve us. The distinction between lifespan, healthspan, and longevity isn’t just academic—it’s the key to ensuring that our increasing years are worth living.
The future of aging isn’t about choosing between quantity and quality of life. It’s about recognizing that these are distinct dimensions that require different approaches, measurements, and interventions. Only by understanding and addressing both can we create a future where longer lives are also better lives.
By the Numbers – The Global Healthspan-Lifespan Gap
Key Findings from Garmany & Terzic (2025) Nature Communications Medicine Study
Global Average Gap: 9-10 years between lifespan and healthspan
Gender Disparity: Women experience a larger healthspan-lifespan gap than men
Study Scope: 183 World Health Organization member states analyzed
Regional Variations:
- Gap magnitude differs significantly across 6 WHO regions
- Disease contributions to the gap vary by geographic location
- Some regions show successful morbidity compression
What This Means: The decade-long gap represents years spent managing chronic conditions, functional decline, and increased healthcare utilization—a period that could potentially be compressed through targeted interventions.
SIDEBAR 2: Quick Reference – Understanding the Terms
LIFESPAN
- Definition: Total years lived from birth to death
- Measurement: Age at death (individual); Life expectancy (population)
- Characteristics: Objective, easily measured, binary outcome
HEALTHSPAN
- Definition: Years lived free from chronic disease and disability
- Measurement: Health-adjusted life expectancy, disease-free years, functional capacity metrics
- Challenges: No universal standard; varies by cultural context
LONGEVITY
- Definition: Variable – sometimes lifespan, increasingly refers to healthy aging at exceptional ages
- Usage: Often describes extended healthy years rather than just total years
- Context: “Longevity medicine” focuses on extending the healthy period
The Measurement Challenge
Why We Can’t Compare Apples to Apples
Current Approaches to Measuring Healthspan:
- Onset of first chronic disease
- Functional capacity assessments (ADLs/IADLs)
- Self-reported health status
- Biomarker panels
- Composite indices
- Quality of life scales
The Problem: Without standardized metrics, we cannot:
- Compare interventions effectively
- Track population progress accurately
- Design evidence-based policies
- Allocate resources optimally
The Solution: Researchers call for culturally sensitive, standardized metrics that can be applied globally while respecting regional differences in health expectations and resources.
What You Can Do Today
Personal Strategies to Optimize Your Healthspan
Evidence-Based Actions:
- Regular Physical Activity
- Modest impact on lifespan
- Dramatic impact on functional capacity
- Preserves cognitive function
- Social Engagement
- Maintains purpose and meaning
- Reduces cognitive decline
- Improves quality of life metrics
- Continuous Learning
- Builds cognitive reserve
- Maintains mental flexibility
- Enhances life satisfaction
- Preventive Healthcare
- Focus on function, not just disease
- Regular assessments of capabilities
- Early intervention for declining abilities
Questions to Ask Your Doctor:
- “What’s my functional trajectory, not just my disease risk?”
- “How can we preserve my abilities that matter most?”
- “Are we optimizing for quality or just quantity of life?”
Policy Implications at a Glance
How Different Definitions Drive Different Outcomes
If We Focus on LIFESPAN:
- Resource allocation to life-extending treatments
- Success measured by mortality reduction
- May increase years spent with disability
- Healthcare costs potentially rise
If We Focus on HEALTHSPAN:
- Investment in preventive care and functional maintenance
- Success measured by quality-adjusted life years
- Compression of morbidity period
- Potential for reduced long-term care costs
The Balanced Approach:
- Track both metrics separately
- Design interventions targeting healthspan
- Evaluate policies on multiple dimensions
- Consider regional and cultural contexts
Research Gaps and Future Directions
What We Still Need to Learn
Current Knowledge Gaps:
- Standardized healthspan metrics across populations
- Optimal interventions for morbidity compression
- Cultural variations in healthy aging definitions
- Integration of biological, social, and environmental factors
Promising Research Areas:
- Geroscience targeting aging mechanisms
- Pace of aging as a population metric
- Regional “natural experiments” in healthy aging
- Technology-enabled functional assessments
Timeline: Experts estimate 5-10 years before standardized global healthspan metrics are adopted, but regional initiatives are already underway.
The Economic Argument
The Hidden Costs of the Healthspan-Lifespan Gap
Annual Healthcare Costs:
- Last 10 years of life account for 25% of lifetime medical expenses
- Chronic disease management: $3.8 trillion annually in the U.S. alone
- Long-term care needs increasing 5% annually
Economic Impact of Closing the Gap:
- Reduced healthcare expenditures
- Extended productive workforce participation
- Decreased family caregiver burden
- Lower disability insurance claims
- Reduced nursing home utilization
Return on Investment: Every $1 spent on preventive interventions targeting healthspan could save $3-6 in long-term care and medical costs.
The Bottom Line: Investing in healthspan isn’t just about quality of life—it’s economically essential for aging societies.
Foods That May Bridge the Gap
Evidence-Based Dietary Interventions for Healthspan
Top Evidence-Based Foods (% of studies):
- Berries (13%) – blueberry, cranberry, raspberry
- Green tea (8%)
- Cocoa (6%)
- Citrus fruits (5%)
- Apples (4%)
Key Phytochemicals:
- Resveratrol (14% of studies)
- Quercetin (8%)
- Curcumin (6%)
- EGCG (5%)
- Spermidine (3%)
Mechanisms of Action:
- Enhanced antioxidant enzyme expression
- Activation of longevity genes (SIRT1, FOXO)
- Reduced inflammatory pathways
- Improved mitochondrial function
- Protection against cellular senescence
Important Note: Most evidence comes from animal studies. Human clinical trials are still needed to confirm effects.
The Complexity of Measurement
Why Healthspan Definitions Matter
113 – Number of different healthspan definitions identified in recent systematic review
Current Measurement Approaches:
- Disease onset markers
- Functional capacity (ADLs/IADLs)
- Biomarker panels
- Self-reported health status
- Composite indices (frailty index)
- Pace of Aging metrics
The Challenge: Without standardized definitions, we cannot effectively:
- Compare interventions across studies
- Design evidence-based policies
- Track population progress
- Allocate resources optimally
The Solution: Multi-dimensional metrics that capture biological, functional, and subjective dimensions of health while respecting cultural differences.
The Mediterranean Diet Solution
Evidence for Narrowing the Gap
Key Finding: The Mediterranean diet narrows the healthspan-lifespan gap by promoting both longer life AND more years in good health.
Core Components:
- Primary fats: Olive oil (high monounsaturated/saturated fat ratio)
- Vegetables: Leafy greens, tomatoes, artichokes, cucumbers
- Fruits: Citrus, berries, pomegranates
- Whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds
- Moderate: Fish, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy (mainly cheese/yogurt)
- Low: Red and processed meats
- Moderate wine with meals
- Emphasis: Fresh, seasonal, local, minimally processed foods
The Evidence:
- 6-8 years delay in mortality for high adherence
- Reduced frailty and disability in older adults
- Lower incidence of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer
How It Works:
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Antioxidant properties
- Gut microbiome modulation
- Targets cellular/molecular hallmarks of aging
Evidence Strength:
- Strong (9/10) for increasing both lifespan and healthspan
- Strong (8/10) for narrowing the gap
- Based on multiple large cohort studies and meta-analyses
Bottom Line: The Mediterranean diet is one of the few dietary patterns with robust evidence for improving both how long AND how well we live.
INTERNAL CENTER FOR FOOD AS MEDICINE & LONGEVITY REVIEW (USING AI ACADEMIC REVIEW TOOL)
Lifespan, Healthspan, and Longevity: Definitions and Policy Implications in Aging and Public Health Research
1. Introduction
The concepts of lifespan, healthspan, and longevity are central to aging and public health research, yet they are often used interchangeably or imprecisely, leading to confusion in both scientific discourse and policy evaluation. Lifespan typically refers to the total number of years an individual lives, while healthspan denotes the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease or disability. Longevity is sometimes used synonymously with lifespan but increasingly refers to the achievement of exceptional age or the extension of healthy years. These distinctions are not merely semantic; they have profound implications for how population well-being is measured and how interventions are designed and evaluated. As global populations age, understanding and operationalizing these terms is critical for developing policies that not only extend life but also improve its quality (Jugran, 2025; Crimmins, 2015; Aan, 2023; Olshansky, 2018; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
2. Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted across over 170 million research papers in Consensus, including sources such as Semantic Scholar and PubMed. The search strategy targeted definitions, measurement approaches, and policy implications of lifespan, healthspan, and longevity in aging and public health research. In total, 1,020 papers were identified, 422 were screened, 295 were deemed eligible, and the top 50 most relevant papers were included in this review.
| Identification | Screening | Eligibility | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1020 | 422 | 295 | 50 |
Figure 1: Flow diagram of search and selection process. Twenty unique searches were executed, focusing on operational definitions, measurement, policy implications, and critiques of these constructs.
3. Results
3.1. Operational Definitions
- Lifespan is defined as the total number of years lived by an individual, measured as age at death or life expectancy at the population level (Jugran, 2025; Crimmins, 2015; Aan, 2023; Olshansky, 2018; Garmany et al., 2021; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
- Healthspan refers to the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease or disability, often measured as health-adjusted life expectancy or years lived without major morbidity (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
- Longevity is variably defined: sometimes as lifespan, but often as survival to an exceptional age (e.g., centenarians) or as the extension of healthy years, depending on context (Olshansky, 2018; Garmany et al., 2021; Tyshkovskiy et al., 2023; Berg et al., 2017; Deelen et al., 2019).
3.2. Measurement Approaches
- Lifespan is measured objectively (age at death, life expectancy).
- Healthspan is more complex, involving subjective and objective measures such as disease-free years, functional capacity, and health-adjusted life expectancy (Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
- Longevity may be measured as survival past a certain percentile (e.g., top 5% of age distribution) or as years lived in exceptional health (Berg et al., 2017; Deelen et al., 2019).
3.3. Gaps and Overlaps
- There is a significant gap between lifespan and healthspan: increases in lifespan have not been matched by equivalent gains in healthspan, resulting in more years lived with disease or disability (Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
- Definitions and thresholds for longevity vary across studies, complicating comparisons and meta-analyses (Berg et al., 2017; Deelen et al., 2019).
3.4. Policy and Well-being Implications
- Focusing solely on lifespan can mask declines in quality of life; healthspan metrics better capture population well-being and the effectiveness of interventions (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
- Some interventions extend lifespan without proportionally increasing healthspan, potentially prolonging frailty and healthcare burden (Crimmins, 2015; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
- Healthspan-centered policies are increasingly advocated to ensure that added years are lived in good health, not just longer (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
Key Papers
| Paper | Main Focus | Population/Scope | Key Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Jugran, 2025) | Lifespan vs. healthspan debate | Global, policy-focused | Advocates prioritizing healthspan over mere lifespan extension |
| (Aan, 2023) | Healthspan measurement | Animal models, translational | Healthspan and lifespan can be uncoupled; need for better healthspan metrics |
| (Garmany et al., 2021) | Healthspan-lifespan gap | Global, epidemiological | 9-year average gap between lifespan and healthspan; policy implications |
| (Garmany & Terzic, 2024) | Healthspan-lifespan gap by country | 183 WHO member states | Quantifies healthspan-lifespan gap; women have larger gap than men |
| (Kaeberlein, 2018) | Critique of healthspan concept | Geroscience, conceptual | Highlights lack of consensus and challenges in healthspan measurement |
Figure 2: Comparison of key studies on lifespan, healthspan, and longevity.
Top Contributors
| Type | Name | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Armin Garmany | (Garmany et al., 2021; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Garmany et al., 2021) |
| Author | A. Terzic | (Garmany et al., 2021; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Garmany et al., 2021) |
| Author | E. Crimmins | (Crimmins, 2015) |
| Journal | NPJ Regenerative Medicine | (Garmany et al., 2021) |
| Journal | JAMA Network Open | (Garmany & Terzic, 2024) |
| Journal | The Gerontologist | (Crimmins, 2015) |
Figure 3: Authors & journals that appeared most frequently in the included papers.
4. Discussion
The operational distinctions between lifespan, healthspan, and longevity are not trivial; they shape the direction of research, the design of interventions, and the evaluation of public health policies. Lifespan is a clear, objective measure, but it fails to account for the quality of those years. Healthspan, while conceptually appealing, is more difficult to measure due to its reliance on subjective and population-specific factors, and there is no universally accepted metric (Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016). Longevity, as a term, is inconsistently defined, sometimes referring to exceptional age and sometimes to healthy aging, further complicating research and policy translation (Berg et al., 2017; Deelen et al., 2019).
The gap between lifespan and healthspan is a critical public health issue. As populations age, more years are spent with chronic disease and disability, increasing the burden on healthcare systems and reducing overall well-being (Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016). Policies that focus solely on extending lifespan may inadvertently increase the period of frailty and dependency, whereas those that prioritize healthspan aim to compress morbidity and enhance quality of life (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
Measurement challenges persist, especially for healthspan, due to the lack of consensus on definitions and the subjective nature of “good health” (Seals et al., 2016; Kaeberlein, 2018). There is a growing movement toward developing standardized, multidimensional metrics that can be applied across populations and studies (Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016).
Claims and Evidence Table
| Claim | Evidence Strength | Reasoning | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifespan and healthspan are distinct and often uncoupled | Evidence strength: Strong (10/10) | Multiple studies show lifespan gains outpace healthspan, leading to more years with disease | (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016) |
| Healthspan is a better indicator of population well-being than lifespan alone | Evidence strength: Strong (9/10) | Healthspan metrics capture quality of life and disease burden, informing more effective policy | (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016) |
| Longevity is inconsistently defined, complicating research and policy | Evidence strength: Moderate (7/10) | Longevity may refer to lifespan or exceptional age, with varying thresholds across studies | (Olshansky, 2018; Garmany et al., 2021; Berg et al., 2017; Deelen et al., 2019) |
| Lack of consensus on healthspan measurement limits comparability | Evidence strength: Moderate (6/10) | No universally accepted healthspan metric; subjective and population-specific factors | (Seals et al., 2016; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016) |
| Some interventions extend lifespan without increasing healthspan | Evidence strength: Strong (8/10) | Animal and human studies show lifespan can be extended while morbidity period also increases | (Crimmins, 2015; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016) |
| Focusing on lifespan alone may misguide policy and resource allocation | Evidence strength: Strong (8/10) | Lifespan-only focus can mask declines in quality of life and increase healthcare burden | (Jugran, 2025; Aan, 2023; Garmany et al., 2021; Seals et al., 2016; Garmany & Terzic, 2024; Kaeberlein, 2018; Bansal et al., 2015; Garmany et al., 2021; Beard et al., 2016) |
Figure undefined: Key claims and support evidence identified in these papers.
5. Conclusion
Distinguishing between lifespan, healthspan, and longevity is essential for accurately assessing aging populations and guiding public health policy. Lifespan measures how long people live, healthspan measures how well they live, and longevity can refer to either, depending on context. Prioritizing healthspan alongside lifespan ensures that interventions aim not just for longer life, but for more years lived in good health.
5.1. Research Gaps
Despite advances, there remain significant gaps in the standardization of healthspan metrics, the operationalization of longevity, and the integration of these concepts into policy evaluation frameworks.
Research Gaps Matrix
| Topic/Attribute | Lifespan Studies (n) | Healthspan Studies (n) | Longevity Studies (n) | Policy Evaluation (n) | Measurement Critique (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective Metrics | 12 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Subjective/Quality | 2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Animal Models | 5 | 8 | 2 | GAP | GAP |
| Human Populations | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Cross-national | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Figure undefined: Matrix of research topics and study attributes, highlighting areas of concentration and gaps.
5.2. Open Research Questions
Future research should focus on standardizing healthspan metrics, clarifying longevity definitions, and integrating these measures into policy frameworks to better guide interventions and resource allocation.
| Question | Why |
|---|---|
| How can healthspan be consistently and objectively measured across populations? | Standardized metrics are needed to compare interventions and guide policy globally, reducing ambiguity in research and practice. |
| What are the most effective policy interventions for compressing morbidity and increasing healthspan? | Identifying interventions that maximize healthy years will improve quality of life and reduce healthcare burdens in aging societies. |
| How should longevity be operationalized to ensure comparability across studies and populations? | Consistent definitions will enhance research synthesis, meta-analyses, and the translation of findings into public health policy. |
Figure undefined: Key open questions for future research on lifespan, healthspan, and longevity.
In summary, clear operational definitions and standardized measurement of lifespan, healthspan, and longevity are vital for evaluating population well-being and designing effective aging policies. Focusing on healthspan alongside lifespan will ensure that added years are not just longer, but healthier.
These papers were sourced and synthesized using Consensus, an AI-powered search engine for research. Try it at https://consensus.app
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From Dr. Charles Platkin, PhD, JD, MPH:
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