Baby boomers have a '˜spring in their step' as they hit 70

Participants in the longest-running study tracking the progress of people from birth have now reached their seventh decade - and researcher say their feelings of well-being have increased.

Aged 60 to 64, the volunteers were tested on a range of mental well-being measures including feeling cheerful, confident, optimistic, useful and relaxed.

When they were asked the same questions again at age 69, there was an improvement in all 14 categories that made up the well-being scale.

This was despite most of the group experiencing at least one chronic disease including arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure, and researchers say hitting approaching 70 has put a spring in their step.

Dr Mai Stafford, from the Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing (LHA) at University College London, said: “What we’ve found is that, on average, levels of well-being increased during people’s sixties.

“We found that one in five experienced a substantial increase in well-being in later life, although we also found a smaller group who experienced a substantial decline.”

The MRC’s National Survey for Health and Development (NSHD) was launched in March 1946 when thousands of newly-born babies were recruited into the study. One of its aims is to look at how individuals change over time in order to pinpoint common experiences that make us happy.

Speaking when he turned 70 in 2013, Sheffield-born adventurer Michael Palin, on receiving a Bafta fellowship award, said he had no plans for retirement.

“No, no,” he said. “I will die, but not retire.”

And despite reaching 69, American entrepreneur Donald Trump is currently experiencing one of his busiest years yet - as he vies for Presidential nomination. He will turn 70 this year, as will Oscar nominee Sylvester Stallone, and singer Cher.

But it’s not all good news for the baby boomer generation.

Last year the Yorkshire Port reported on the alarming rise in the number of people over the age of 65 drinking alcohol at unsafe levels.

Research by King’s College London found that the Baby Boomer generation represent an ever-increasing population of older people drinking at levels that pose a risk to their health.

It suggested elderly white people, and those who are wealthy and better educated, are more at risk of excessive drinking.