Health capital, life course and ageing

Abstract

Background: The difference in individual ageing remains a not fully understood subject.

Objective: To discuss the use of the health capital concept and its application to the life course approach as an alternative to understand factors involved on individual ageing and identify genetic, socioeconomic, psychological and biological influences.

Results: The initial capital (genetics and development in uterus) and other lifelong assets like education, social status, locus of control, cognitive reserve, and humor are important modulators of ageing. The biological assets like basal metabolism, aerobic capacity, and insulin sensitivity also play a major role.

Conclusions: Health stock at any time will derive from health capital, the depreciative effect of ageing, positive health inputs and negative inputs that increase depreciation. A high health stock increases the chance of successful ageing and a low health stock is compatible with disability and lack of independence.