26/07/2026
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ
Is something very close to my heart.
I found it helpful to explain vitality to my patients.
The horizontal axis represents age.
The vertical axis represents vitality.
Most people reach peak vitality between approximately ๐ญ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ด years of age.
This is when strength, physical performance, and mental sharpness are at their best.
There is a reason most professional athletes retire before the age of 40.
Consider two football legends - ๐๐๐ฅรฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐.
Both were among the greatest players in history.
Both retired from professional football in their thirties.
Yet their later years looked very different.
Pelรฉ remained active, engaged, and productive for decades after retirement.
Maradona gained weight, experienced multiple health issues, and died at the age of 60.
Two extraordinary athletes.
Two very different vitality curves.
I have had the privilege of looking after people at the opposite end of the spectrum.
One remarkable lady remained completely independent until the age of 105.
She lived in her own home.
She managed her own housework.
Her daughter drove her to the local supermarket and did her own shopping.
Then she developed a chest infection and, within only a few days, passed away peacefully.
This is what I call ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: living a long, active, independent life, followed by a short period of illness at the very end.
Surely that is how most of us would choose to age.
The exciting news is that our Vitality Curve is not fixed.
We can now assess biological age, identify obstacles to healthy ageing, and act long before disability develops.
The goal is no longer to add years to your life.
The goal is to add life to your years.
๐'๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ.
When did you first notice changes in your own vitality?
What do you think has had the biggest impact on your energy and health as you've grown older?
