Study Highlights Declining Healthy Life Expectancy in Canada

A recent Statistics Canada study reveals a substantial decline in healthy life expectancy across the country. According to data highlighted by experts, healthy life expectancy dropped to 66.9 years in 2023, representing a decrease of 3.5 years from the peak of 70.4 years recorded between 2010 and 2012.

Dr. Louis Bherer, a professor in the Department of Medicine at the Université de Montréal and researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute's EPIC Centre, noted that the healthspan-lifespan gap is widening. As overall life expectancy increases, citizens are spending more years in poor health, driven by factors such as being overweight, poor sleep, inactivity, and high blood pressure.

According to Dr. Bherer, nine out of ten people over the age of 65 possess at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Modern lifestyles increasingly involve high stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and diets heavily reliant on ultra-processed foods, despite nutritional information being widely accessible to the public.

Experts argue that public health authorities have largely neglected the immense potential of lifestyle prevention. Research indicates that nearly half of all dementia cases, roughly 45 percent, could theoretically be prevented through healthy living habits and addressing fourteen modifiable risk factors.

Addressing common misconceptions regarding age, Dr. Bherer stresses that adopting healthier habits is beneficial at any stage of life. While education and hearing loss management play vital roles, incorporating regular physical activity and proper nutrition can significantly enhance cognitive and physical resilience among older adults.

Researchers at the Montreal laboratory have been utilizing physical and cognitive exercise programs for participants aged 50 to 95. Their findings show that combining mental exercises with physical workouts—such as stationary bikes, treadmills, and strength training—yields clinically significant improvements in attention, alertness, and memory over periods ranging from three months to a year.

The ongoing studies continue to explore how muscle movement stimulates the production of myokines and other exerkines, which positively impact metabolism, inflammation, and brain health. Ultimately, experts advocate for integrating simple, sustainable routines like brisk walking and balance exercises into daily life to maintain independence and overall well-being as the population ages.