Definition: Is a term used to describe one of the goals of healthy aging and longevity. Morbidity is the presence or rate or incidence of the disease or medical condition. It refers to the burden that an illness or health conditions causes. Compression refers to the concept of pushing all the morbidity of one’s life into as small a time period as possible. Compression of Morbidity, then, is the goal of living disease- and illness-free for as long as possible.
In other words, we want to minimize the number of years that a person spends suffering while maximizing the total number of years. In fact, a study was done at Stanford that examined the risk factors and morbidity/disability in 418 adults over a 12-year period. People with fewer risk factors (people who had healthier lifestyles) experienced less decline than people with more risk factors. The conclusion? Age-related morbidity can be reduced and postponed with healthier lifestyles.
Sources:
Hubert HB, Bloch DA, Oehlert JW, Fries JF. Lifestyle habits and compression of morbidity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002 Jun;57(6):M347-51.
