health span

noun

: the length of time in one's life during which an individual is in reasonably good health

A revolutionary increase in life span has already occurred. A corresponding increase in health span, the maintenance of full function as nearly as possible to the end of life, should be the next gerontological goal.—

John W. Rowe and Robert L. Kahn

Several genetic studies in mice suggest that the elimination of senescent cells from the organism leads to extension of the mouse's health span and lifespan.—

Judy Siegel-Itzkovich

Examples of health span in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Scientists are working to develop drugs that could extend dogs’ lifespans and health spans. —

Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024 Here are the four barriers Gori sees to extending the American health span. —

Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 19 Jan. 2024 Though essential for various bodily functions, excessive amounts of fatty acids in the body can be harmful, shortening a person’s health span and life span by increasing their risk of chronic disease, disrupting metabolic processes and promoting inflammation. —

Eyleen Jorgelina O'Rourke, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 Stress Loneliness is a major influence on health span, Gori said. —

Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 19 Jan. 2024 Moreover, there will be a significant change in the composition of the workforce—as younger age groups shrink (see graphic below), and as increasing health spans as well as changes to retirement regulations mean that older people work for longer. —

Martin Reeves, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2023 The goal of the competition is to extend health span, the number of years people live healthy and free of disease. —

Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 29 Nov. 2023 Experts have estimated that the health span and life span gap is about a decade or more—meaning people live the last of their lives disabled and in pain. —

Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 29 Nov. 2023 Hundreds of companies in longevity biotech are working to translate the discovery of drugs that extend health span in animals into human treatments. —

Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'health span.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.