A recent Pew Research study examining Americans’ views on aging found that most U.S. adults want to live at least until age 80. Respondents were almost evenly split on how long they hope to live: 23% want to live into their 80s, 24% into their 90s, and 23% hope to live past 100. A small but notable percentage (7%) said they want to live beyond 120.
These preferences hold relatively steady across demographic groups, with 91 emerging as the average age respondents hope to reach.
To achieve that age, most adults (69%) believe they have at least some control over the aging process, and 30% say they have a “great deal” or a “fair amount” of control.
Respondents expressed the most confidence in maintaining their physical and mental health, and slightly less in managing appearance-related aspects of aging. Nearly all said they have at least some control over their physical health (94%) and physical mobility (91%). When it comes to mental sharpness, 85% believe they have at least some control as they age, and 83% believe they have at least some control over their physical appearance.
More than half of U.S. adults have either taken (21%) or would consider taking (35%) anti-aging supplements to look younger. They are far less likely to have had (5%) or to consider having (18%) nonsurgical cosmetic treatments to reduce the signs of aging, with similar reluctance toward surgical interventions.
Income appears to be the most significant factor in how well people age, both mentally and physically. Among respondents over age 65, only 45% of those with low incomes rated their mental health as “excellent” or “very good,” compared with 73% of those with upper incomes. The pattern holds for physical health as well: just 26% of low-income respondents and 49% of upper-income respondents rated their physical health as “excellent” or “very good.”
More information on the Pew study can be found here.
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