Tag Archives: aging

435-440 Ü. Kristjuhan
Possibilities of prolonging human life in the near future
Abstract |
Full text PDF (180 KB)

Possibilities of prolonging human life in the near future

Ü. Kristjuhan

Chair of Labour Environment and Safety, Tallinn University of Technology,Ehitajate tee 5, EE19086 Tallinn, Estonia; e-mail: ulo.kristjuhan@ttu.ee

Abstract:

People are interested in health and long life. As a result of their activities, health isimproving and average life expectancy is increasing in most countries by two to three monthsevery year. It is around 76 years in Estonia and nearly 80 years in the European Union (onaverage) at present. Life expectancy is projected to increase to 84.6 years for men and to 89.1years for women in Europe by 2060. However, these figures are likely to be overly pessimistic.There are many ways of accelerating progress. Many of these are health behaviours: avoidingstress, controlling blood pressure, exercising and healthy diets do not require much additionalexpense. A combination of such measures can have an impressive effect on health and lifeexpectancy. Our experimental studies in the industry have shown that it is possible to postponeage-related changes by up to 20 years at present. More rapid prolonging of human life ispossible by advancing biogerontological studies and intervention programmes that need moreresources than they currently have available to them.

Key words:

, , ,




441-448 Ü. Kristjuhan, and E.Taidre
Workability of older academics
Abstract |
Full text PDF (227 KB)

Workability of older academics

Ü. Kristjuhan¹,* and E.Taidre²

¹Chair of Labour Environment and Safety, Tallinn University of Technology,Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; *Correspondence: ulo.kristjuhan@ttu.ee
²Statistics Estonia, Endla 15, 15174 Tallinn, Estonia

Abstract:

The population is aging. The proportion of the older and experienced workforce isincreasing in intellectual work. There are those people who are dreaming of retirement activitiesbut not everybody. Many older specialists are interested in working longer, after the traditionalretirement age. In comparison with times past, ‘young-old’ people (aged 65–74), are healthierthan their predecessors. There is an accepted retirement age (65–70) in most Europeanuniversities and also in the universities of many other countries. However, studies show thatthere is not any need for a special retirement age as there is no biological basis for retirement ata fixed age. Older and experienced academics should be used, first and foremost, for students’instruction (at the MSc and PhD level) and on research. Their accumulated wide knowledgeshould also be used in big projects. The best solution is an age-diverse workforce at theuniversity.

Key words:

, , ,