Independent and Vital Elderly

[NewAmerica]

Does it mean "elderly people who live alone and who are important (to society)"?

Thanks in advance
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The results, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, come from the government-funded ACTIVE (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly) study. Starting in 1998, ACTIVE’s 2,832 healthy older adults (average age at the start: 74) received one of three forms of cognitive training, or none, and were evaluated periodically in the years after.

-Scientific American

Source

 

[grassy]

I think "vital" there means "living a fairly active life".

 

[london calling]

That defines my parents, who are aged 85 and 86 respectively and are independent (autonomous) and live a very active life.