Cultural Pathways to Active Aging - Early-Life Preparation, Community Practices, and the “Point of No Return: Preliminary Associations with Healthy Life Expectancy at Age 60 (HALE60)

The notion that “it’s never too late” may obscure the reality that no new practices introduced in old age can reverse the accumulated biological and psychosocial effects of earlier life. This threshold, referred to as the “point of no return,” varies among individuals but is largely shaped by cultural norms, lifestyle patterns, and access to preventive care. A comparative review of aging-related practices in East Asia, Europe, and North America illustrates how early-life preparation, community participation, and lifelong learning influence active aging. Preliminary associations with healthy life expectancy at age 60 (HALE60) are explored in relation to educational participation and community engagement. Considering the high proportion of first-generation emigrants—who tend to age according to the norms of their country of origin—further nuances this picture. The study proposes criteria for the cross-cultural transfer of effective practices—cultural compatibility, cost, infrastructure, and time to implement—and frames active aging as a lifelong, culturally embedded process rather than a set of late-life activities.