On the doorstep to senility: physical changes, health status and well-being in midlife

Authors

  • Maria Kaczmarek Department of Human Biological Development, Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1515/anre-2015-0017

Keywords:

stage of life, menopause, andropause, morbidity, mortality, quality of life

Abstract

The movement of the baby boomers into the middle ages made the 45–65 age cohort the largest and the fastest growing segment of population in the first decade of the 21st century. This demographic expansion will have multiple consequences for ageing society. This paper aimed to provide an overview on biology of midlife transition. Physical characteristics, midlife-specific morbidity and mortality were described with focus to sexual dimorphism in physique and gender gap in mortality and morbidity. These characteristics made midlife a separate and unique stage of life. In-depth knowledge of this life stage may be useful in identifying and solving problems of ageing individuals and population.

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Published

2015-12-30

How to Cite

Kaczmarek, M. (2015). On the doorstep to senility: physical changes, health status and well-being in midlife. Anthropological Review, 78(3), 269–287. https://doi.org/10.1515/anre-2015-0017

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