Italy changes concept of elderly to 75 years old

Demographic data shows that life expectancy has increased by 20 years since 1900 in Italy

From this Friday (30th) the Italian population can consider themselves younger. According to the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Sigg), a person can only be considered elderly from the age of 75.

“A 65-year-old person today has the physical and cognitive shape of a 45-year-old thirty years ago. Those who are 75 have the same conditions as those who were 55 in the 1980s”, says Niccolò Marchionni, professor at the University of Florence and director of the cardiovascular department at Careggi hospital.

“Demographic data shows that life expectancy has increased by 20 years since 1900 in Italy. A large part of the population between 60 and 75 years old is in excellent shape and free from disease,” he adds.

Geriatricians announced the adoption of a dynamic definition of the concept of “elderly”, which adapts to changing demographic and epidemiological conditions, taking into account that, scientifically, one is only elderly when one has a life expectancy of ten more years. Currently, life expectancy in Italy is 85 years for women and 83 for men. (ANSA)