Why we need to change the narrative on ageing

I write this with the good fortune of being in a Japanese ski resort – the first time my family and I have visited the ‘Land of The Rising Sun’.

I have been aware of many cultural differences between our countries and contemplating how these may promote Japan’s status as one of the longest-lived populations on Earth.

For those interested in the numbers, Japan’s overall life expectancy is about 85 years, compared with Australia’s 83.

Australia, itself, has impressive rates: the life expectancy in the US by comparison is between 75 and 78.

Then there is Okinawa, a famed ‘Blue Zone’, which boasts an extraordinary number of centenarians. There may be genetic underpinnings, but I suspect the way that the Japanese approach life also contributes to a healthy lifespan.

So, what can we learn from our northern cousins? Firstly, there is a higher-than-average per capita consumption of fish, which we know often has considerable health benefits – with brain-protective omega 3 fatty acids, and acting as a great source of lean protein.

There is a heavy emphasis otherwise on plant-based diets, which have been consistently linked to good health outcomes – full of nutrients, polyphenols and antioxidants that dampen chronic inflammation: a process that accelerates biological ageing.

And perhaps it is not only what they eat, with an old Confucian teaching promoting the principle of Hara Hachi Bu: eating only until you are 80 per cent full.

Obesity rates tend to be lower in Japan, perhaps in part related to this approach (though these are rising, in tandem with most developed nations).

I have written previously of the benefits of sauna and heat therapy. Though the main research has been done on Scandinavian populations, the Japanese are also enthusiasts. One of my favourite ways to end my days snowboarding has been to use the local onsen: a natural hot spring.

I suspect part of the benefit is the relaxing and meditative nature of the experience, but we do also know that heat confers benefits, creating among other things the heat-shock proteins that help with cellular maintenance and repair.

Then, there is something more fundamental: how the fabric of society  in Japan (and many Eastern countries)  does a better job at making the elderly  feel more valued. Their annual Respect  for the Aged Day exemplifies this.

Ageing poses many challenges, often interlinked and some unavoidable, but ageism and a (sometimes unconscious) sidelining of the individual after they reach a certain age is something that we have full control in avoiding.

The Western narrative of ageing is one of increasing obsolescence, and this is harmful not only to the psyche but also to the physical health of the individual.

By reframing ageing in such a way as to make those in their later years feel more included and valued, we can go a long way to slowing down its associated decline.

But what does this look like? Well, it may mean actively involving the elderly in our everyday lives, providing them with roles and a sense of purpose. It may also mean highlighting what only years of experience can provide: wisdom, and seeking and overtly appreciating the opinions of those who have them.

Encouraging autonomy and independence is also important because it focuses on strengths rather than weakness.

 Kailas Roberts is a psychogeriatrician and author of Mind Your Brain: The Essential Australian Guide to Dementia, available at bookstores and online. Visit yourbraininmind.com or uqp.com.au