The Extended Body: On Aging, Disability, and Well-being

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Disability Studies
• Philosophy of Disability

Background:

• Limited interdisciplinary dialogue exists between gerontology and disability studies.
• Many older adults experience conditions that align with definitions of disability.
• Gerontology can benefit from disability studies' insights into embodiment and ability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To bridge gerontology and disability studies by introducing key concepts from disability studies and philosophy of disability.
• To foster critical reflection on the meaning of the body, ability, and their variability in later life.
• To propose a new conceptual framework for understanding age-associated bodily changes.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis and conceptual argumentation.
• Interdisciplinary review of gerontology and disability studies literature.
• Development of the
• extended body
• concept.

Main Results:

• The paper argues for reconceptualizing age-associated bodily variations and abilities.
• It proposes the
• extended body
• as a central concept, shifting focus from individual capacity.
• This reframing encourages a more capacious understanding of embodiment and ability in aging.

Conclusions:

• Integrating disability studies perspectives can enhance gerontological understanding of aging.
• The
• extended body
• concept offers a novel lens for examining the good life in late life.
• Rethinking embodiment and ability is crucial for a more inclusive and nuanced view of aging.