Have you ever met a friend and, as she talks, you think she looks much younger than her age? If you are among those lucky people who look younger than they actually are, then we have good news, not only for your appearance, but also for your health.
According to a study conducted by Dutch researchers, people who look a few years younger than their actual age tend to be healthier.
The researchers analyzed nearly 2,700 people aged 50 to 90, asking independent observers to estimate their age based on photos of their faces, both frontal and side/profile views. They then compared these estimates with the participants' medical records.
The results were surprising:
People who looked at least 5 years younger had better mental abilities, while their risk of having health problems, such as cataracts, osteoporosis or hearing problems, was significantly lower.
According to Professor Tamar Nijsten, dermatologist and study leader at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the conclusion is clear:
"When you look younger than you are, this also reflects the biological age of the body, brain and organs. The appearance is associated with a slower aging process of the organism."
Although the study does not provide definitive results, it is one of the strongest pieces of evidence to date that the age a person "appears" to be is a clear indicator of the body's internal state.
What else did the researchers discover?
1. People who looked younger performed better on perception tests.
2. They were 15% less likely to suffer from respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
3. They were 24% less likely to have osteoporosis.
4. They were 16% less likely to need cataract surgery and 24% less likely to have hearing problems.
5. Among the people who received the highest ratings, the majority were male (61%), non-smokers.
The researchers also emphasized that these results support the practices of doctors who use external appearance as an additional indicator of patients' health status.
