Oldest-old (85+ age group)

The oldest-old is the term for people aged 85 and over. It is the fastest-growing slice of most high-income populations. This group is remarkably mixed in how they fare. A substantial minority stay highly functional into their late 80s and beyond, sometimes called 'successful aging'. Their health patterns differ from younger old adults (65 to 84). If you make it to this age, the usual heart risk factors (like high blood pressure and high LDL) lose much of their predictive power. Instead, markers of physical function, nutrition, and resilience become stronger predictors of survival. Studying this group is tricky, though, because of survival bias. The people who reach 85 are already a select, hardy group. So traits seen at that age can look more linked to longevity than they really are.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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