Healthspan
The number of years a person lives in good health, function, and independence, as distinct from lifespan, which simply counts total years alive.
Healthspan measures the years lived with strength, mobility, cognitive clarity, and independence, not just the total count of years. A longer lifespan without a longer healthspan can mean more years of frailty or chronic disease rather than more good years.
Most serious aging research now treats healthspan, not lifespan, as the more meaningful target. That reframes the goal from living longer to staying well for longer, which is a more measurable and more human way to think about aging.
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Research publication: Definitions reflect current research status and are for educational purposes. This is not medical advice.