Research reveals that nearly one-quarter of individuals aged 60 and above who started with suboptimal well-being were able to restore a high level of overall wellness within just three years. This insightful study, published on September 24, 2025, in PLOS One by Mabel Ho and Esme Fuller-Thomson from the University of Toronto in Canada, highlights the critical value of adopting and sustaining a healthy lifestyle. Key practices include maintaining a consistent body weight, steering clear of tobacco use, engaging in regular physical activity, prioritizing quality sleep, and effectively preventing or controlling chronic health issues. Furthermore, the investigation stresses the vital contributions of psychological health, emotional balance, and strong social connections to achieving a superior quality of life in later years.
There is an increasing focus on exploring the factors that foster resilience and sustained well-being over time. Numerous everyday lifestyle decisions play a significant role in preserving robust health and a sense of happiness, which this particular research defines as an integrated measure encompassing physical vitality, psychological strength, emotional stability, social fulfillment, and personal self-assessment of well-being. This holds true even when individuals are dealing with ongoing chronic illnesses. Nevertheless, relatively few investigations have delved into the specific elements that enable people to bounce back or reattain a robust state of well-being in their later years following periods of hardship.
Drawing from the comprehensive dataset of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, researchers Ho and Fuller-Thomson examined the profiles of 8,332 adults who, at the outset, fell short of the threshold for optimal well-being. They tracked these participants over a three-year period, ensuring that everyone involved was at least 60 years of age by the study’s conclusion.
The analysis uncovered that almost 25 percent of these individuals had successfully reached a state of optimal well-being by the end of the observation window. Participants who exhibited initial indicators of solid psychological and emotional health were almost five times more inclined to fully recover their well-being compared to those lacking such traits.
Additional factors that boosted the chances of regaining well-being included being relatively younger within the group—specifically under 70 years old—being married or in a committed partnership, and having an income that exceeded poverty thresholds. Positive results were strongly associated with consistent physical exercise, absence of smoking habits, restorative sleep patterns, and the avoidance of prevalent chronic ailments like obesity, diabetes, arthritis, or osteoporosis.
Given that every Canadian citizen and permanent resident benefits from universally accessible, publicly funded healthcare services, the study authors point out that these outcomes might not translate directly to nations where healthcare access is tied to financial means. They also advise caution in applying these insights to low- and middle-income countries, where different socioeconomic and healthcare dynamics prevail.
Should subsequent studies confirm that the connections identified here reflect true cause-and-effect relationships, this could pave the way for targeted policies and supportive interventions aimed at bolstering physical fitness, psychological resilience, emotional health, social engagement, and positive self-perception among seniors. Practical examples include community programs and services designed to motivate older adults toward active, health-promoting routines, better management of long-term conditions, and proactive steps to combat social isolation. The researchers assert that such initiatives could prove essential in building greater resilience among the elderly, ultimately aiding them in recapturing peak well-being during their later life stages.
“What makes this study particularly impactful is its affirmation that life in later years can remain deeply rewarding, even following challenging times. While physical health matters greatly, the relationships we nurture, the purpose we find, and the joy we experience are equally indispensable,” states lead author Mabel Ho, who recently completed her doctoral studies at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) and the Institute of Life Course and Aging.
“This research serves as a compelling imperative to prioritize preventive measures, economic security, and readily available wellness resources—strategies that are not only prudent from a policy standpoint but hold the promise of positively reshaping the aging experience for those older adults currently facing difficulties,” adds senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson, who directs the Institute for Life Course & Aging and holds a professorship at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
