Enhancing Healthy Longevity: Scoping Review of Practices and Interventions.

BACKGROUND

Over the past 2 decades, concerns have arisen about the distinction between health span and lifespan, highlighting that longevity does not necessarily equate to good health, a concept often referred to as "healthy longevity." While various strategies have been explored to promote healthy aging and achieve healthy longevity, it remains uncertain which practices are most effective.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review identifies the existing and emerging practices and interventions that promote healthy longevity, identifies the key components of these practices and interventions, and considers how stakeholders contribute to these practices and interventions.

METHODS

A scoping review of the literature was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's 6-stage framework. The Joanna Briggs Institute Population-Concept-Context framework was used to define the eligibility criteria and select studies reporting practices or interventions aimed at achieving a long health span or promoting healthy longevity carried out in the community. Data were manually extracted by 2 independent reviewers to detail the characteristics of these practices and interventions and guide the data charting process and narrative synthesis. Six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar) were searched for academic papers published between January 2010 and February 2025.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies (n=15, 71%) were published after 2020 and were predominantly conducted in high-income settings (n=17, 81%) across North America, Europe, and Asia. Four study types were identified: interventional (n=7, 33%), intervention development (n=4, 19%), association (n=5, 24%), and descriptive (n=5, 24%). Interventional and intervention development studies primarily described multicomponent programs targeting individual and social determinants of health and generally reported beneficial effects on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes. Association studies linked micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors (eg, nutrition, household expenditure, housing quality, health insurance, and public financing policy) to healthy longevity indicators. Descriptive studies highlighted themes across the micro and meso levels, including finance, physical activity, mental and spiritual health, digital literacy, independent living, safety, social support, and health care support.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified community-based strategies, practices, and policies that extend health span represent the joint efforts of multiple stakeholders and disciplines. The implementation of these practices and policies is worthy of being supported. More studies in diverse socioeconomic contexts are needed.