As societies across the world get older, the risks of ageism are considerable.  New research from Yale University highlights not only how ageism can be unfair, but how it can also have implications for the life expectancy of the individuals involved.

The research was conducted across 45 countries and included a review of some 422 different studies involving over 7 million participants.  96% of these studies highlighted the adverse effect ageism had on older people.

The study is believed to be the first systematic review of the impact of ageism on health.  It finds that the implications are wide ranging, and include a reduced access to health care and individual level bias against people, which can increase the stress levels of individuals.  Stress was one of a number of mental health conditions that were affected by ageism, with the research also identifying increases in depression.

Perhaps most worrying, however, was the impact on the physical health of older people, with the study clearly identifying decreases in life expectancy as a result of ageism.  This is in part because ageism can affect the likelihood of an older person receiving the medical treatment they need.  What’s more, if they do receive it, it can often be of insufficient duration and frequency, or even the wrong treatment altogether.

In 85% of the studies there was evidence of treatment being denied, with ageism present in the medical decisions from 92% of the studies assessed by the team.  Given the changing demographics, perhaps the worrying thing is that this trend seems to be worsening.

“Our research highlights the importance of recognizing the influence of ageism on health,” the researchers conclude. “Policies to improve older persons’ health must take ageism into account.”