Feeling Younger Promotes Longevity

It turns out that you may be able to will yourself to live longer, as feeling younger promotes longevity in older adults, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University College London found that there is a significant difference between being old and feeling told. The study shows that those who felt three or more years younger than their actual age boasted a lower death rate, compared with those who felt their age or who felt more than one year older than their chronological age.

"Self-perceived age has the potential to change, so interventions may be possible. Individuals who feel older than their actual age could be targeted with health messages promoting positive health behaviors and attitudes toward aging," the authors noted.

The findings were published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

During the study, researchers Isla Rippon and Andrew Steptoe looked at 6,489 individuals, whose average chronological age was 65.8 years, but on average they saw themselves at 56.8 years. Though they may look more elderly, the majority of these adults (69.6 percent) in fact felt three or more years younger than their actual age. Whereas 25.6 percent felt just about their real age and 4.8 percent felt more than a year older than their chronological age.

Researchers followed up with participants 99 months later and were surprised at what they found. According to the results, mortality rates were just 14.3 percent in adults who felt younger, 18.5 percent in those who felt about their actual age and 24.6 percent in those adults who felt older.

"The mechanisms underlying these associations merit further investigation," the authors note. "Possibilities include a broader set of health behaviors than we measured (such as maintaining a healthy weight and adherence to medical advice), and greater resilience, sense of mastery and will to live among those who feel younger than their age."

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