How events in early life affect elderly health

At present, many countries face the problem of ageing population and in several years time, the aged population would overtake the younger age groups as the majority of a population. It brings with it several major issues and among them 'elderly health' would be a major concern. Although many research have focused its attention on coming up with anti-ageing medications or supplements for the aged, only handful of research have focused its attention on how early life events would affect the elderly life. Following is a analysis of one such research which provides us with an insight in relation to early life events and elderly health.

In an article titled 'Effects of Early Life on Elderly Health' published by the Population reference bureau, it analyses some of the research carried out by the Behavioral and Social Research Program at the National Institute on Aging. Accordingly, the article illustrates the early life decisions or events and how it affects the elderly health through multiple mechanisms. Thus, it describes these incidences based on different time frames and instances.

During childhood, one could experience many insults to his or her health and some of these insults may cause weakness in body organs. Rheumatic heart disease is one such example. Diseases such as tuberculosis may not manifest until much later in life. At the same time, children are more vulnerable to traumatic experiences than during the adult life. According to research, apart from such physical and mental insults, events such as nutritional deprivation, poor socio economic status as well as environmental pollution have shown to affect the later life, especially the elderly life.

The adolescent years are important for several different reasons and among them, some of the life determining behaviors are acquired during this eventful time period. Thus, behaviors related to diet, smoking, drinking, exercise...etc would have a lasting effect on a persons elderly health. At the same time, because of the rapid growth that takes place during this time, nutritional deprivation and other social factors would play a bigger role in the growth and development which invariably affect the long term health of a person. 

Researchers argue that, infants born in 1960s and after would be exposed to less trauma, infections and other insults during the birth and early infancy and would therefore live a longer life and a healthier life. However, it is not only the time of birth per se which would determine the longevity of a person although certain ethnicities have illustrated this phenomenon in several instances.

When a person is deprived of adequate socio-economic support, they invariably would lack adequate education, means of better income or wealth accumulation as an adult. Thus, such individuals would be at a disadvantage when they reach the elderly status which can affect their longevity as well.

Although it may not directly affect a persons health, being in a socially disadvantages neighborhood may lead to poor health status in the elderly age due to multiple effects. Among these effects, poor education, stress, poverty and lack of family support could be highlighted.  

It is evident that, early life events could affect the health in the elderly age although it needs much more research evidence and understanding to depict the exact mechanisms of each of these influences. However, knowing these issues, it would be easier for health care professionals as well as policy makers to plan-out strategies to minimize such influences and promote a healthy childhood in order to benefit in the late stages of life.