Authors: 
Maureen Braen CPXP, CDP – Founder, Rise Dementia Care (https://www.risedementiacare.com/)
Olan Soremekun MD MBA – Medical Director, NexStep Health (https://www.nexstephealth.com/)

Introduction – Redefining What It Means to Age Well

Most of us have been taught that living longer is the ultimate goal. But what if we’ve been measuring the wrong thing? In this article, we explore the difference between healthspan and lifespan and why focusing on healthspan can help you live longer and better.

When people talk about aging well, they often don’t describe lab values, they describe moments: walking with friends, cooking with family, and being part of something that matters, where they can still make a difference.

Today, Americans are living decades longer than past generations yet many spend their final years managing chronic illnesses, juggling multiple medications, or relying on others for daily tasks. The truth is, lifespan tells us how long we live. Healthspan tells us how well we live.

And it’s the latter that truly matters.

What’s the Difference Between Lifespan and Healthspan?

• Lifespan is the total number of years you live.
  
• Healthspan is the number of years you live in good health – free from major disease, disability, or cognitive decline.
  

Imagine two people who both live to 90. One spends her 80s hiking, traveling, and spending time with her grandkids. The other spends those same years recovering from falls, managing heart failure, and moving between rehab facilities. Both have the same lifespan, but vastly different healthspans.

Definition of Healthspan 

Healthspan is the number of years spent doing what we love, sharing experiences, and contributing meaningfully, rather than simply getting by. It’s about being able to live life fully, without becoming a burden to others or losing one’s sense of self.

Healthspan is relational and emotional, not just medical. The quality of our days, the strength of our relationships, and the sense of connection and purpose we maintain often matter far more than the number of years we live.

Definition of Lifespan

Lifespan is simply the number of years we live.  Modern medicine is remarkably effective at treating disease and extending life, but not always at ensuring the quality of those extra years. Even after accounting for genetics, research shows that over 60% of health outcomes are driven by non-clinical factors such as lifestyle, environment, and social connection. These same factors don’t just determine how long we live, they play a defining role in how well we live, shaping our healthspan.

Protecting Body and Mind: The Core of Healthy Aging

True healthspan means protecting the body and brain together.  The same habits that strengthen neural pathways also protect the heart, muscles, and mind, setting the stage for the decades ahead. Healthspan is not about avoiding change, it’s about adapting to it through strong relationships, routines, and activity.

The Power of Neuroplasticity

Our brains have the ability to form new neural pathways when we remain mentally, socially, and emotionally active.  This ability to form new connections is called neuroplasticity,  the brain’s remarkable capacity to rewire and adapt throughout life. Even as some brain cells are lost with age, others can strengthen or take on new roles through repeated use and stimulation.

Each time we learn a new skill, try a different route on our walk, or engage in meaningful conversation, our brain activates and reinforces new pathways. These “mental workouts” help maintain communication between brain regions that support memory, attention, and problem-solving.

When people stay mentally curious and socially connected, they often remain more adaptable and confident. It’s a reminder that growth is still possible, and that connection and purpose are powerful protectors of the brain.

Your 50s and 60s: How to Improve Your Healthspan in Midlife

Midlife is often a pivot point. In our 50s and 60s, the choices we make, how we move, connect, rest, and refuel, shape not only how long we live, but how well we live in the years ahead.

If you’re in your 50s or early 60s, you’re likely still active and independent, perhaps even caring for an aging parent while thinking about your own future. This is the decade that determines your trajectory.

Your healthspan doesn’t decline overnight. It’s shaped by small, everyday decisions that either build resilience or accelerate aging. The good news? It’s never too late to change your curve.

Research from the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care (2020, Link to full article) identifies twelve modifiable lifestyle factors, including physical activity, hearing health, nutrition, education, social connection, and blood pressure management, that can lower dementia risk and improve overall well-being. Similarly, the U.S. POINTER Study (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024, Link to full article) found that combining healthy movement, brain-stimulating activities, a Mediterranean- style way of eating, and consistent social engagement can help preserve cognitive and physical function well into later life.

Together, these findings remind us that healthspan is not accidental, it’s shaped by how we live each day.  While many people may run their first marathon after they turn 50, focusing on healthspan doesn’t have to mean doing more. It’s about making small, intentional changes and living with meaning.  

Extending Your Healthspan: Small Choices, Big Results

Your healthspan is shaped by small, consistent choices made every day. While the full picture deserves its own guide, the foundation is simple.  Move often, eat well, connect deeply, and rest intentionally.

Here are a few of the daily habits research shows make the biggest difference:

• Stay active through regular movement — even walking counts
• Keep your brain engaged by learning, creating, and connecting
• Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and preventive care

For a deeper dive, explore our companion piece: Healthy Aging Made Simple: Six Proven Ways to Extend Your Healthspan

Research shows that lifestyle and preventive choices can extend healthspan by 10 years or more. That means more time living the way you want — not just more time on the clock.

Summary – It is about living well not just longer

Extending your healthspan means more years of energy, connection, and purpose and not just a longer lifespan. Simple, consistent habits that support the body and brain help us stay strong, independent, and engaged at every age.

The goal isn’t more years, it’s better years.