There is actually a lot of truth in the saying “you are as old as you feel.” Studies have shown if you feel younger than your actual age, chances are good that you will live longer. It gets worse if you feel older than your actual age – you may well die earlier.
Research in England amongst older people has found that those who felt three or more years younger than their actual age, had a lower death rate than people who felt their own age. People who felt older than their own age had an even higher mortality rate.
The findings indicated a correlation between self-perceived age and cardiovascular death, but no correlation with cancer. Researchers suggest that people who feel younger psychologically may be healthier by getting more exercise and following healthier diets.
A study amongst older people in Finland determined that people who perceived themselves younger in both physical age and mental age, had a significant lower mortality rate than those who felt their own age. Those with a perceived physical age and mental age older than their actual age had an even higher mortality rate. The conclusions are that perceived age can predicted worsening of health.
An American study found that older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of getting older, lived on average 7,5 years longer than people with less positive self-perceptions of aging.
Some say “a man is as old as the woman he feels”. Now that would make an interesting study……..
Sources:
- England: “Feeling old vs being old. Associations between self-perceived age and mortality.” Research Letter published online in JAMA Internal Medicine, February 2015.
- Finland: “Perceived age as a predictor of old age mortality: a 13-year prospective study.” Published online in Age and Ageing, Oxford Journals, 17 May 2005.
- USA: “Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 83 (2), August 2002.
HEALTH INSIGHT
MARCH 2017
