Women over the age of 50 in England prioritise quality of life over living longer, according to a survey led by Professor Nicholas Steel.
The study of more than 6,000 over-50s reveals that older women take a life's for living approach, placing more value on quality of life than adding extra years. Men were found to be more likely to prioritise living longer.
Professor Nicholas Steel, from the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School, said: "Women were significantly more likely to prioritise quality of life over length of life. Men, meanwhile, were less likely to put quality of life ahead of simply living longer."
Quality of life can mean different things to different people, including independence, comfort, mobility and the ability to enjoy everyday activities.
The authors say the findings challenge the assumption that everyone wants to maximise the number of years they live. Instead, many people are willing to accept a shorter life if those years are healthier, happier and more enjoyable. Recognising these different priorities could help families and doctors better understand what matters most to older adults when discussing the future.
The results form part of a wider analysis of older people's views on healthcare and ageing published in the journal Plos One. The study found that women are more likely to challenge doctors than their male counterparts, though older people overall are increasingly willing to leave medical decisions in the hands of professionals.
Patient Care and Healthcare Preferences
"We also found that older participants were more likely to prioritise how well their body functions rather than how it looks," Professor Steel added.
Wider findings suggest there is no such thing as a typical older patient. People hold strikingly different views on everything from taking risks and trying experimental treatments to whether they would rather enjoy a better quality of life or simply live for longer.
"While age, sex and education can offer useful clues about healthcare preferences, every patient's wishes remain unique," Professor Steel concluded. "This work provides a valuable starting point for more personalised care as Britain's population continues to age and healthcare decisions become increasingly complex."
Lifespan and Genetics
A separate study led by the University of Copenhagen has uncovered the role genes actually play in the human lifespan. Until now, studies suggested only around 10 to 30 per cent of a lifespan can be put down to genetics, with the rest thought to be made up of illnesses, accidents and lifestyle factors such as eating well, not smoking and exercising.
According to calculations by the University of Copenhagen study, more like 55 per cent can be put down to genetics. "If lifespan is largely fixed by genetics, then the scope for influencing the rate of ageing is limited, particularly for lifestyle interventions," said co-authors Daniela Bakula and Morten Scheibye-Knudsen.
