# Compression of morbidity

Compression of morbidity is a concept introduced by James Fries in 1980 describing a scenario in which the onset of chronic disease and disability is postponed faster than the increase in lifespan, so that severe illness is concentrated into a shorter period at the end of life. It is a guiding goal of geroscience and healthspan-oriented medicine. Empirical evidence is mixed: in some populations morbidity has compressed, in others it has expanded as lifespan rose.

## Sources

- Fries JF. (1980). Aging, natural death, and the compression of morbidity. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198007173030304

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_Canonical: https://longevity-germany.com/en/glossary/compression-of-morbidity · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-01-15_