Is the aging of the body and mind reflected in our oval? That’s what a recent Dutch study, conducted by a photo panel and published on Tuesday, January 10, suggests. British Journal of Dermatology.
Looking younger or older than your age is a very subjective observation that often comes from the eyes of others. Only in reality it can testify about our state of health. This is the conclusion reached by the Dutch scientists of Erasmus University in Rotterdam. By asking people to estimate the age of other individuals based on their photos, and then comparing their medical records, researchers found that looking older was associated with an increased risk of health problems related to aging. These results were published on January 10 British Journal of Dermatology .
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Perceived age, a reflection of inner aging.
To reach these conclusions, the team of scientists collected facial and profile photographs of 2,769 women and men of European descent, aged 51 to 87. These pictures were submitted to a panel of 27 people responsible for judging the age of the models based solely on appearance. Each photographed individual was given a score based on their actual age and perceived difference. The higher this score, the younger the respondents appear.
These scores were later examined by researchers considering the lifestyles of the photographed models. In this information, we found body mass index, tobacco use, or UV exposure. Medical history was also reviewed. Renal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, muscle, bone, eye and auditory pathologies… Nothing was excluded, even cognitive abilities were measured.
If you look younger than you are, the health of your organ systems, body, and mind will likely reflect that.
Tamar Nysten, professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam and lead author of the study
After analysis, the scientists found that “appearing older than one’s actual (real) age is associated with a higher mortality rate,” read the study’s conclusions.
In people who looked five years younger, the researchers found no serious health concerns. Specifically, perception was associated with increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), osteoporosis, cataracts, and age-related hearing loss. Looking younger is also associated with better overall cognitive functioning, the researchers confirmed in their press release.
A promising diagnostic index
“If you look younger than you are, the health of your organ systems, body and mind is likely to reflect this,” comments lead study author Professor Tamar Nysten. “It’s not a definitive study, but it’s probably the best study to date that proves that perceived age also reflects intrinsic aging,” he continues.
According to the researchers, the perception of age is therefore promising and can be considered as a serious diagnostic indicator. However, further studies should be considered. Indeed, the sample observed by the Erasmus University in Rotterdam was mainly composed of people from northwestern Europe. Therefore, future research should expand their research and extend it to population groups with more diverse ethnic backgrounds.
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Source: Le Figaro
