Impact of Lifestyle, Health Conditions and Medical and Family Care on the Quality of Life of the 80+

Dear Colleagues,

High standards of usual care and appropriate treatment can prevent/delay the impact of ageing and are in part responsible for the increase in life expectancy. As a result, it is being redefined chronologically what is an ‘older person’. Now, an elderly person is a person that is over 75 and over 90 years old, the oldest-old. Nevertheless, old age remains associated with a high prevalence of chronic comorbidities, which are related to cognitive impairment and dependency, significantly affecting quality of life. Therefore, the current focus is on successful or resilient ageing, that even when suffering from illnesses, it is possible to resist cognitively and with autonomy in daily life. The genetic contribution to longevity is estimated at about 25%; environmental factors would therefore play a major role. This has been seen in the Blue Zones, regions of the world where people live longer. These individuals share some lifestyle characteristics, such as moderate physical activity, a plant-based diet, avoidance of smoking, and family integration. Many of them are so-called superagers because they have even better memory capacities than middle-aged subjects. This is notable if we take into account that at the age of 80+, cognitive decline begins. The aim of this Special Issue is to know the situation of older people, and we welcome high-quality original papers or comprehensive reviews. Researchers may include their studies on matters concerning health status, lifestyle, family, and primary healthcare and their impact on the cognitive sphere, autonomy in daily life, and lifespan expectancy.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Carmen Gómez
Guest Editor

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