[LUM#3] Feeling Younger to Age More Slowly

[LUM Magazine] - Published on September 13, 2016 in Science and Society

And you—how old do you think you are? A simple question that provides valuable insights into how your health is changing…

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Are you over 50 but feel like you’re in your 40s? That’s a good sign for your brain… Researchers have shown that feeling younger than your actual age slows cognitive aging.“There’s often a difference between the age listed on your ID and your perceived age,” explains Yannick Stephan of the Epsylon Laboratory. “After age 40, people tend to feel younger than their actual age—we call this a ‘rejuvenation bias,’” adds the researcher, who specializes in the psychology of health and aging.
By studying a group of 1,352 men and women aged 50 to 75, Yannick Stephan found that those who reported feeling younger than their actual age had better cognitive performance 10 years later. And what about when people feel older?“Conversely, those who tend to feel older have a higher-than-average risk of cognitive decline,” the researcher explains.

Personalized Prevention

Beyond brain aging, feeling older than one’s actual age appears to have significant consequences for overall health. In a study of 10,000 adults, Yannick Stephan and his colleagues demonstrated that feeling older than one’s actual age is associated with a 25% increase in the risk of hospitalization in the coming years, regardless of the cause.“Subjective age is a good marker of physical, mental, and biological health,” explains the specialist.
In terms of health, perceived age may even be more important than actual age.“This information is obtained by asking a simple question—without a blood test or medical examination—but it provides valuable insights,” says Yannick Stephan, who suggests that subjective age could be incorporated into diagnostic and medical follow-up protocols. Asking people how old they feel would thus make it possible to identify those at higher risk of developing health problems as they age.“Once identified, these patients could benefit from personalized prevention programs aimed at slowing their aging process, based in particular on physical activity and exercise.”