What is functional aging?

Functional aging refers to the observable changes in body function over time, which might affect one's ability to perform daily activities like running a mile or climbing stairs. This concept contrasts with chronological aging, which simply tracks the passage of time as indicated by one's age in years. Functional aging is characterized by how the body's capabilities evolve, impacting things like mobility and cognitive function.

According to Dr. Morgan Levine and Dr. Rhonda Patrick, functional aging is important to understand as it directly relates to quality of life and the risk of diseases or diminished abilities that people worry about as they age. The aim within the field is to quantify and possibly slow or reverse these functional declines through various interventions 1.