The Aging of American Presidents

Feb. 16, 2009 — -- As one of the world's most powerful and influential positions, the American presidency comes with a lot of control and prestige -- but it also can bring premature aging.

According to Dr. Michael Roizen, founder of www.realage.com, presidents can age at a rate of two years for every year they are in office. In honor of President's Day, Roizen has taken a look at the effect the office has on the commander in chief's health.

Roosevelt was really vigorous when he came into office, and he kept up his exercise routine. But he also ate a lot more and developed hypertension and signs of sleep apnea.

In fact, after he was hospitalized following an assassination attempt, it is reported that he snored so loudly and irregularly — a sign of sleep apnea — that all the other patients in the hospital on his floor couldn't sleep and asked to be moved as far from his room as possible.

You also could see that inner aging in faster development of cardiovascular diseases -- hypertension in particular develops sooner. You see it manifest in heart disease, strokes and even facial aging lines.

The last medical information we have on him is from March or April, but from what we can see, he was aging at a rate of two years for every one.

Remember, he had a good exercise program, just as Barack Obama does, but the stress still takes its toll.

His father only had one term, and aged eight years during it. He was in the CIA in the past, he was in great shape; he ate well, had good relationships.

But when he came into office, he lost a lot of his friends and was affected by his time in office significantly.

The isolation of the presidency is something that really gets to some of the nation's leaders. They lose their friends just because they don't have time to devote to friendships anymore.

Presidents have confidantes and advisers, but they are each giving them information on a different subject. The only person they have to really talk to and trust is their spouse.

When he came into office, his real age was about six years younger than his calendar age. When he finished, he was about 10 years older than his calendar age, and he had a bad heart.

Exercise is great, and so is volunteering or religious practice. Taking good care of yourself--whether you're the president or not — can shave real years off of the aging process.