When does "middle age" begin?

[GeorgeG]

I suppose there are official charts somewhere that define the stages of life, but I've always heard middle age starts at 40 and runs to 60. There's also some logic that since we tend to live longer these days, the "new middle age" starts later on. In any case, I think I'm past it.

 

[disney1990]

I voted for middle age to begin at 40...I have not decided when it ends for ME though.

No, generally I think anyone under 40 is "young", 40-60 is "middle age" and then over 60, when one reaches retirement age they are now "elderly." Probably 60 up to age 70 would be on the "younger side of elderly" and then over 70 is "old."

Wow, I know my DH would disagree with your definition of elderly. He is 67 and is father is 90 - his father is elderly. My DH can run circles around people 1/2 his age.

To me elderly isn't really an age it is more a state of mind and behavior. Age is a factor for sure but there is more to it.

Don't get me wrong, when you hit mid 80's and 90's, to me that is elderly regardless of competency.

Middle age is a period of time between youth and old age. Usually classified as the period between age 40 and 60.

 

[John VN]

For simplicity, take 90 years as dying.

Birth to 30

31 to 60 middle age

61 to 90

 

[Fortuosity]

Sometime after 30. Definitely (for myself) by 35.

 

[goofyernmost]

I chose "Other" because, frankly, you have to die before you can know when YOUR middle age was. I know that sounds flippant but really, what does middle age mean anyway? What kind of stigma does it carry with it and why does it matter unless one is anxious to know when you are half way to dead.

What is the reason? Is it that bucket list thing because I only plan on accomplishing whatever I accomplish in my lifetime, however long that be. Whatever I do not accomplish, I will not miss nor care about after I'm gone.

OK, if pressed I'd have to say....64!

 

[happygirl]

I pray it's not 35 I just turned 35 LOL. I think it's about 45

 

[PigletsPal2]

I'm hoping that middle-age starts at about 50. I'm fifty-fifteen and plan to live long enough to annoy my children.

Queen Colleen

 

[honeydiane1953]

For me it began at 50 of course that is IF one lives to be 100. 50 would be in the middle and very FEW live to be that old.

 

[DeaverTex]

I don't have a clue. I'm 61. When my parents were this age, they were definitely old. That's based on their attitude, their activity levels, and their general mental flexibility. By the same criteria, my grandparents were distinctly elderly at 61.

I have no idea how old I am, but we're going to Disney World, and we're gonna learn to rollerblade.

 

[tazlikesrobots]

No set number. Middle aged is when your mind tries to write checks that your body cannot cash

 

[disney1990]

I don't have a clue. I'm 61. When my parents were this age, they were definitely old. That's based on their attitude, their activity levels, and their general mental flexibility. By the same criteria, my grandparents were distinctly elderly at 61.

I have no idea how old I am, but we're going to Disney World, and we're gonna learn to rollerblade.

I love your attitude. I am 60 and plan to go ziplining this summer. I am not going to let life pass me by. Taking our granddaughters 12 & 14 to Disney this summer. DH and I have the energy to keep up with them - because according to them, according to them, we are the "fun" grandparents. Their other grandparents, take them and watch what they do - we do it all.

 

[goofyernmost]

No set number. Middle aged is when your mind tries to write checks that your body cannot cash

Heck, that started when I was 18!

 

[bookgirl]

I put 45. Honestly I do think that 40 is still pretty young, it's when you are on the downhill side of that decade looking at 50 that you begin to realize that you might actually be getting old.

And yes I am on the backside of my forties (barely) so I do look at myself and think, I"m not really a young woman anymore, but then again I'm not an OLD woman either so I consider myself middle aged.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

For me, middle age is more a state of mind, not so much I hope to live to 90 so 45 is the middle.

This is how I feel about it, too.

I suppose there are official charts somewhere that define the stages of life, but I've always heard middle age starts at 40 and runs to 60. There's also some logic that since we tend to live longer these days, the "new middle age" starts later on. In any case, I think I'm past it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Forty-eight. Actually 38 to 58, but 48 is the median age in that range.

Adulthood starts at 18.
According to the World Book, the average life span is 78.1 years.
Break that sixty year span into three twenty year blocks - young, middle-aged, old/elderly - and you get 18-38, 38-58, and 58-78.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'll be 66 in August. I plan on living until I'm 115 years old.

50 is the START of middle age. 100 is the START of old age.

Any questions?????!!!!!

 

[mrsv98]

Well, my Gram is 93 and still lives on her own. I tell her every year she lives keeps me further away from middle age! I think it is 45 to 50 and since I just turned 47 that puts me smack dab in the middle....*sigh*

 

[Imzadi]

According to some research & statistics, (hopefully developed by old people) current baby boomers life expectancy is to about 90. So that would make the mid point of life at 45.

Centenarians, people who live to 100 or later, are actually the fastest growing population in America.

By the time our kids get to be elderly, the life expectancy should be older than 90 or 100. So middle age for them will be 50-60ish.

 

[doris1976]

I base middle age on the shape of one's body, so in my case, I would say........50.