研究:老年人最幸福 85歲到達頂峯

People get happier as they grow older, according to new research, which claims our best years do not arrive until our late seventies and eighties.

一項新研究發現幸福感會隨着年紀增長而增加，最好的日子要在七八十歲的時候纔會到來。

Traditional wisdom states that the younger years are the best of our lives, with the milestone of 40 meaning we are "over the hill."

一般認爲人生最好的時光是風華正茂的年歲，一過不惑之年便是光景已逝、年華不再。

But in fact satisfaction and optimism steadily increase after middle age, easily eclipsing the earlier years and peaking as late as the eighties, according to scientists.

科學家們稱，事實是中年後人們纔會越來越知足常樂、樂天知命，讓早年的歲月相形見絀，到了85歲後達到幸福感的頂峯。

An easing of the responsibilities of middle age combined with maturity and the ability to focus on the things we enjoy combine to make old age far more enjoyable than one might expect.

中年後肩上的責任減輕，心智成熟，能夠專注於喜愛的事情上，因而可以讓人活的比常人所想的更快樂。

This is greatly increased by having good health, a stable income and good relationships with family and friends, according to scientists.

科學家們說如果身體健康、收入穩定、家庭和睦，幸福感就會大大增加。

Lewis Wolpert, professor of biology at University College London, said most people were "averagely happy" in their teens and twenties, declining until early middle age as they try to support a family and a career.

倫敦大學學院生物學教授劉易斯·沃爾珀特說大部分人十幾、二十幾歲是“一般幸福”，由於養家和職業的原因幸福感會一直下滑直至中年前期。

A survey of 341,000 people, published by the American National Academy of Sciences, found enjoyment of life dwindled throughout early adulthood but began increasing in the late forties, and continued to increase until reaching a peak at 85.

這份由美國國家科學學院發佈的研究覆蓋34.1萬人。該研究發現青年時期生活幸福感日益減少，到了45歲後纔會慢慢增加，並將一直持續到85歲到達頂峯。