Sixty Is The New Fifty Dahling: Study Shows You're Not Middle-Aged Until You Hit 60

For years, hitting 50 has been classed as a milestone for becoming "middle-aged".

But now (and probably to the delight of many) researchers have suggested that 60 is in fact the new middle age.

The claim is made by Dr Sergei Scherbov, the world population programme deputy director at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, who worked on a study of future population projections for Europe up to the year 2050.

The study, led by Professor Warren Sanderson, of Stony Brook University in the United States, notes that if old age is fixed at a certain point, the proportion of old people will rise because of increasing life expectancy.

If the threshold for being old is moved to take into account longer lives, the proportion of old people actually falls over time.

Dr Scherbov said: "What we think of as old has changed over time, and it will need to continue changing in the future as people live longer, healthier lives."

He said "someone who is 60-years-old today, I would argue is middle aged", and added that 200 years ago, a 60-year-old would be a very old person.

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With people living longer, healthier lives, age should not just be a number we reach but a reflection of the life we lead, according to the study.

It looked at different rates of increase for life expectancy, from no increase to an increase of about 1.4 years per decade.

Researchers compared the proportion of the population that was categorised as "old" using the conventional measure that assumes that people become "old" at age 65, and the proportion based on their new measure of age.

Of the study, which appears in the journal PLOS ONE, Professor Sanderson said: "The onset of old age is important because it is often used as an indicator of increased disability and dependence, and decreased labour force participation.

"Adjusting what we consider to be the onset of old age when we study different countries and time periods is crucial both for the scientific understanding of population ageing for the formulation of policies consistent with our current demographic situation."

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The Seven Myths Of Middle Age

Middle Age Myth #1: Midlife Crisis(01 of07)

Research shows the midlife crisis is largely fiction. People in their 20s and 30s are more likely to experience the kind of "crisis" associated with middle age. Only an estimated 10% of middle-aged people have the classic midlife crisis. (credit:Alamy)

Myth #2: The Empty Nest Syndrome(02 of07)

Researchers have found no evidence of the so-called empty nest syndrome. Many parents relish and enjoy the transition, taking pride in the fact that all their child-rearing efforts have paid off, and their offspring are on the road to accomplishing their goals. (credit:Alamy)

Myth #3: The Trophy Wife(03 of07)

Men don't abandon their middle-aged partners for younger trophy wives as the stereotype suggests. Most marriages break up in the first eight years. The recent rise in divorce among the middle-aged is because second unions are breaking up (usually within the first eight years of marriage). (credit:Alamy)

Myth #4: Menopause Stinks(04 of07)

Hot flashes aside, nearly 62% of women in one survey said they felt "only relief" when their periods stopped, while fewer than 2% said they felt "only regret." (credit:Alamy)

Myth #5: The Death Of Libido(05 of07)

Despite the latest hype about testosterone supplements, low sex drive, depression and sagging energy levels were more likely to be caused by stress, poor eating habits and laziness in midlife than lower hormone levels. Meanwhile, many researchers think that warnings about female sexual dysfunction in middle age are highly exaggerated. What may account for women's flagging sexual life is that they are less likely to have a regular partner than men. (credit:Alamy)

Myth #6: Health Inevitably Declines(06 of07)

It turns out age really is about attitude: Research has found that believing that you can improve your health in middle age actually improves it. A sense of control in midlife can dramatically reduce disability and preserve one's health and independence later in life. (credit:Alamy)

Myth #7: Happiness Plummets(07 of07)

The truth is just the opposite: Many people view midlife as their happiest period. Several surveys have found that while happiness dips in the 40s, people start to feel more content with life after the age of 50. (credit:Alamy)

Lisa Harris, head of communications at Saga, claimed that "middle age is most certainly a state of mind".

She said: "In today's society we are living longer healthier lives and the face of later life is changing beyond all recognition.

"Retirement is no longer a cliff edge decision where we stop working purely because we've celebrated a birthday," she added.

"Instead we change the way we work - often with the goal of achieving a more rewarding work life balance that allows us to feel both valued in the workforce for the skills and experience we have to offer.

"It also gives us the opportunity to travel, take part in hobbies, volunteer and generally have a bit of fun too.

"It's not just about living long but ageing well!"

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