The Younger You Look, the Longer You’ll Live?
EmailABC's Samantha Fields reports from London:
Are you in your mid-20s, 30s, 40s even, and still getting carded? Do people frequently assume your younger siblings are older than you? Well guess what? You’re in luck. New research by Danish scientists indicates that chances are, the younger you look, the longer you’ll live.
Not only are people with deceptively youthful looks more likely to live longer, but they also tend to enjoy better health throughout their lives and are less prone to dementia, according to a study published this week in the British Medical Journal.
Danish researchers had people look at photographs of hundreds of pairs of twins, all in their 70s or older, and guess their ages. Following up with the twins over the course of seven years, the researchers found that the bigger the difference in the perceived age of the twins, the more likely it was that the older-looking sibling died first.
“Our study shows that in a group of people aged over 70, perceived age is a strong indicator of mortality after adjustment for chronological age,” conclude the study’s authors, led by University of Southern Denmark aging expert Professor Kaare Christensen. “We anticipate that the effect might be even more pronounced in middle age.”
The research, begun in 2001 and completed last year, lends credence to the idea that looking old for your age is a bad sign for your health.
It makes sense. Factors like smoking, sitting in the sun, depression and low socio-economic status are all known to contribute to aging. On the other hand, being married, high social status, lack of depression and a low body-mass index all help people maintain a more youthful appearance. Then there are the genetic factors, too. Most notably, the length of someone’s telomeres, pieces of DNA that indicate cells’ ability to replicate, is believed to have a direct correlation to both physical health and appearance. Research has shown that shorter telomeres are linked to faster aging and a number of diseases. The Danish study confirmed this.
A tough life often leads to an earlier death, Christensen said, and a tough life often shows in a person’s face. So maybe the best thing a doctor can do to check up a patient’s health is the simplest – really look at them.
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How much does melanin play a role in looking youthful? Darker complexion African-Americans appear to have less wrinkled and overall less aged skin. Maybe in more ways than imagined, the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice is so very true. Amen to having color!
Posted by: Linda V Eldridge | December 15, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Give me botox now. I am in serious trouble.
Posted by: Huh | December 15, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am
I’m 98 now. I’m so ugly I should have died at 30. Theory disproved
Posted by: wolny | December 15, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
Ugly doesn’t equate to “aged”. Plenty of fugly people can look youthfully fugly.
Posted by: kandy | December 15, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
53 years old, and going 25. That’s what I’m talking about. My grandfather lived to be 141 and my grandmother just passed away last month at 119 years or age. Top that!
Posted by: what667 | December 15, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
Blech. I’m turning 41 in a few months and I was carded last weekend. The last thing I want to do is live too long. What misery!
Posted by: Goolia | December 15, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Asians don’t seem to age at all. They maintain their youthful look for a long time. They actually look better when they get older, especially the men. My single girlfriends and I have noticed that and talked about this.
Posted by: white angel | December 15, 2009, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
I dont believe its so much the looks than the mental factor. If you feel good about yourself, your stress levels will be lower with the less likelihood of the onset of associated health problems…and so on.
I swear George Burns looked old when he was in his forties but lived past 100. –Indians (American) have a tendency to hold on to their youthfulness for quite some time. But when it does come, it comes with a vengence…i.e.Geronimo.
My grandmother was fullblooded Cherokee and looked pretty good up to about 80, then, within 5 years she aged rather quickly looking like an 85 year old. She died last year at the age of 91.
Posted by: tendergroins | December 15, 2009, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
Age is only skin deep, if you feel young you will look young. My aunt who is 97 says she still thinks of herself as 39. this is the answer to it all most of it is mental. Plus having good looking younger looking parents. But if you smoke you will age, no question about that one. Keep active and have a good outlook on life. The glass half full attitude , have pets they keep you happy. Don’t hang around those who are glass half empty types they drag you down. Keep God in your heart too.
Posted by: Sharon | December 15, 2009, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
Some of your comments crack me up I’m going to laugh all night long..Especially the comment by Wolny…too funny…
I’m not sure any particular race is naturally younger looking, I don’t think Melanin is pertinent either. I think you either are young looking or not…Many elders who are black, Asian, Indian look their age when they hit 80, usually. The secret is taking good care of yourself.
Posted by: Sharon | December 15, 2009, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm
The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice? The blacker the berry the sooner the damn thing will be moldy rotten and ready for the trash. Genetics and lifestyle determine longevity. If your parents were long lived you likely will too.
Posted by: Seven | December 15, 2009, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
I’m a 50 y/o African woman from the Caribbean (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands). When my “age” is revealed people’s mouth fall (and stay) open, literally, their response would be “you don’t look a day older than 30,” then their second question would be, “what do you do?” My response is … “collagen Elastin by St. Ives”
Posted by: Ayomide | December 16, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
I am 51 also from the Carribbean I have never looked my age.At 30 I didn’t have my ID and had to leave a party! I hated it when I was in my teens but now I love it! My daughter is 18 but looks like 12. She hates it but I share my stories with her and tell her she’ll love it when she is my age. At my 50th someone thought I was 35 how rediculous but great.My mom is 87 but looks like 67 I think the genes has a lot to do with it….
Posted by: Ann | December 18, 2009, 8:58 am 8:58 am
I’m 34. African-American. 5’4/200 lbs
I look between 15-25 years old.
Besides genetics – There IS a secret to looking years younger, and it has nothing to do with expensive beauty products.
Posted by: Teri Aki | December 31, 2009, 7:55 am 7:55 am
I don’t buy the twin study. I don’t think it’d be a legit indicator because you most likely aren’t going to have twins looking that significantly different in age. Even sibilings would be a tough indicator because there is a strong chance they’ll look alike. The scariest part, as EMS workers, is knowing how many YOUNGER PPL in their 20s & 30s are dropping of heart attacks, women in their 20s getting breast cancer, etc. Not sure I buy this premise. My ADOPTIVE father and I are similar. He’s 86 and frankly has a better mind than I, his BP has always been excellent, and he impresses me as one in his 70s. MY BP is pre-hypertensive.
Posted by: Young looking | March 24, 2010, 8:21 am 8:21 am