Sunday, May 18 2025 | Time 08:32 Hrs(IST)
WorldPosted at: May 16 2025 6:54PM


Feeling older, loneliness, negativity are potential triggers for frailty in 40s, reveals Australian study

Canberra, May 16 (UNI) Feeling older than your years, struggling with loneliness, or holding bleak views about getting older could be early red flags for frailty — even in your 40s, according to new research from Australia’s Flinders University.
The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, challenges the idea that frailty is only a condition of later life. Instead, researchers found that psychological and social cues could point to pre-frailty — a reversible stage — decades earlier than expected, according to Xinhua.
“Many people assume frailty is something that happens when we get much older,” said lead author Tom Brennan from Flinders University’s Caring Futures Institute.
“But our findings suggest psychological and behavioural warning signs can appear much earlier.”
Frailty is a recognised medical condition marked by reduced strength, energy and resilience, and it is increasingly being understood as a process that begins long before physical symptoms emerge.
In a survey of 321 Australian adults aged 40 and over, researchers found that 60% were classified as pre-frail, 35% as non-frail, and 5% as frail.
Participants completed detailed surveys that assessed frailty status alongside their physical activity, chronic conditions, quality of life, loneliness, social isolation, as well as their perspectives on aging.
Analysis of data showed that these individuals were significantly more likely to report feeling older than their actual age, experiencing loneliness, and having negative perceptions of ageing, reports Medical Xpress.
“Loneliness was one of the strongest predictors of pre-frailty in our sample,” Brennan said. “It highlights that social isolation is a critical factor that can affect overall resilience even in people who are otherwise relatively healthy and mobile.”
Another key finding was that pre-frail individuals commonly reported feeling older than their chronological age, even when physical health markers were within expected ranges.
"Feeling older than you are can be a meaningful psychological signal," said Brennan. "We need to emphasise the importance of fostering positive attitudes towards aging as this can have a huge impact on how people adjust to their later stages of life."
The authors recommended that future frailty prevention strategies should incorporate psychosocial screening tools and provide support for maintaining social engagement and a positive self-view of aging.
"By recognising and addressing these early warning signs, communities and health care providers can implement targeted interventions to help people stay healthier for longer, potentially reducing health care costs and improving quality of life as our population ages," said Brennan.
"Aging well isn't just about avoiding disease, it's about fostering resilience—physically, mentally and socially. The earlier we start, the better our chances,” he added.
The findings come as ageing populations place increasing pressure on healthcare systems. An 18-month inquiry released by the New South Wales government on Friday warned that the state’s health system could be overwhelmed if steps aren’t taken to prepare for the growing demand linked to older age.
The Flinders team is calling for earlier screening for psychosocial risk factors, alongside efforts to encourage stronger social connections and a more positive mindset about ageing — both of which could reduce future healthcare costs and improve quality of life.
UNI ANV RN
Tags: #Feeling older# loneliness# negativity are potential triggers for frailty in 40s# reveals Australian study
More News

Five people suffer stab wounds at London music event

18 May 2025 | 8:22 AM

London, May 18 (UNI) Five people were injured in a stabbing incident after violence erupted at a music event in southeast London early Saturday morning.

see more..

1 killed, 5 injured in California blast

18 May 2025 | 8:14 AM

Los Angeles, May 18 (UNI) At least one person was killed and five others injured on Saturday in an explosion outside a fertility clinic in the desert resort city of Palm Springs, California, according to authorities.

see more..

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says ceasefire between India, Pakistan must continue

18 May 2025 | 12:19 AM

Islamabad/London, May 17 (UNI) UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who was visiting Islamabad, has said the ceasefire between Pakistan and India must continue and that conflict in the region is not in anyone's interest.

see more..

China renews yellow alert for thick fog

17 May 2025 | 10:46 PM

Beijing, May 17 (UNI) China's national observatory on Saturday morning renewed a yellow alert for thick fog in some parts of the country.

see more..

Palestinian, Egyptian presidents urge immediate end to Israeli Gaza offensive

17 May 2025 | 10:42 PM

Baghdad, May 17 (UNI) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

see more..