Another of pope's legacies: Finding out if someone is too old to lead

How old is too old to lead?

The retirement of Pope Benedict, the first such abdication in almost six centuries, may force aging lions from politics, academia and business to confront that painful question. For the legions of leaders well into their 80s and beyond, the evidence isn't encouraging.

Benedict said he will step down two months before his 86th birthday because he no longer has the strength to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. His decision may prove emblematic of an older generation that is perhaps healthier than earlier generations, yet may harbor unrealistic expectations about what's physically possible as the body ages.

"The pope is probably making a wise decision because his ability to totally manage the church is going to be more limited, on average, because he's 85," said Leo Cooney, 69, chief of geriatrics at Yale School of Medicine.

Many of the world's most influential business leaders are confronting the same decision as they continue to rule their empires in their 80s and even 90s. Leaders in their 80s include Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, 82; News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch, 81; BP Capital's T. Boone Pickens Jr., 84; and Tracinda's Kirk Kerkorian, 95. Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone and Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charles Munger are 89. Li Ka-Shing, chairman of Hutchison Whampoa, is 84.

The scientific community's consensus on these long-reigning tycoons is clear enough: All good things come to an end. Some lucky ones are vigorous into old age; many others aren't.

"The prevalence of significant cognitive and functional problems does increase dramatically in the mid-80s," said Cooney. "It's probably a good idea to reassess one's ability to be in positions of power at that time."

By the time people reach their 80s, muscle mass, strength and endurance decrease. Almost 70 percent of Americans ages 85 to 89 have a disability, defined as a substantial limitation in major life activity, according to a 2011 report on aging by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Institute of Aging.

"There's definitely not a magic number, but there are things that happen more as you age," said Audrey Chun, 41, medical director of Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "As you start collecting these conditions where you have more than one chronic condition, those things can start taking a higher toll."

As conditions accumulate, so do the medications, which can lead to side effects that can leave people somewhat impaired, Chun said. Dementia and cognitive decline also kick in. By 90 about half of people have some sort of cognitive problem, she said.

Difficulty performing errands alone and mobility-related activities such as walking and climbing stairs are the most common types of disability, affecting two-thirds of people ages 90 and older, according to the Census Bureau and National Institute of Aging study. Hearing and vision loss affect 43 percent and 26 percent respectively.

It's not all bad news, said Thomas Kirkwood, associate dean for aging at Newcastle University in northern England, who has studied aging for almost 40 years.

"I do feel some regret that the pope's decision serves to confirm a negative stereotype we have in society about being old," he said in an interview. "The common idea that 85 is an age when someone is likely to be past it simply doesn't stand anymore."

The findings suggest that women may face more hurdles than men in their mid- and late 80s. At 85, about 37 percent of men reported no limitations to their daily living activities, such as cooking, bathing and managing personal finances. The percentage was about half that for women, Kirkwood said.

"It's a very interesting paradox that although women live longer than men, women at the end of life experience more disability and ill health than men," he said.

Most elderly powerful business people, though, have no intention of abdicating if they don't have to. And that may be the smartest decision they ever make, according to many gerontologists. Hanging onto a job full of responsibilities and challenges may be the best thing for an executive's health, said Barbara Messinger-Rapport, director of the Cleveland Clinic's center for geriatric medicine.

"To age successfully, you have to have cognitive challenges," she said. "You have to have social engagement, so you're with peers and have meaningful activities. You need physical challenges to maintain your ability."