According to WHO, what is healthy ageing?

• A. The process of maintaining optimal cognitive function in older age.
• B. The process of developing and maintaining functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age.
• C. The decline of physiological function with age.
• D. A medical concept focused on retirement planning.

Answer: (B)

Healthy ageing, in the WHO sense, is about developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age. Functional ability isn’t just about one skill or capacity; it’s how a person can do the things that matter to them—moving around, self-care, participating in family and community, and maintaining meaningful relationships—within their environment. This idea combines two parts: intrinsic capacity (a person’s physical and mental abilities) and the influence of the environment (social and physical supports, opportunities, and barriers). The goal is not merely to prevent disease or to keep cognition at a peak, but to preserve the overall ability to live well and actively participate in life as conditions change. That’s why this option best matches the WHO definition: it centers on functioning and well-being in older age. The other ideas are narrower or misaligned: focusing only on cognitive function, describing inevitable decline, or treating healthy ageing as retirement planning, misses the holistic view of maintaining functional ability and wellbeing.