The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging · Oct 13, 2026

Conceptualizing psychological capacity

By Beard JR, Coons WR

Intrinsic capacity is being increasingly used as an entry point for clinical care and as a research outcome, yet basic work on measurement of its subdomains has lagged. Psychological capacity illustrates the challenge: despite its conceptual breadth, most studies limit measurement to symptoms of depression, capturing only a fraction of the construct. This editorial discusses a consensus-building effort by Hagani et al. in this issue that offers a clearer definition of psychological capacity and a replicable process for sharpening intrinsic capacity's other subdomains. It argues that conceptual clarity must now be followed by measurement tools that move the field beyond depressive symptoms while being psychometrically sound, available in brief and comprehensive forms, and sensitive to change.

doi.org/10.1016/j.jnha.2026.101004Open accessPubMed 42868861Biomarkers