How Young We Believe We Are May Be More Important than Chronological Age
When we think of our age, we mostly rely on chronological age (CA). That is, the number of years we have been alive. This doesn’t change, regardless of health status or our “physiological” age. But is it possible that we could be younger than this so-called chronological age?
Of course, we all age at different rates. Some people appear to age faster and seem older than their CA. Others age at a slower pace, and seem younger than they really are.
Scientists are now showing that chronological age is an incomplete figure. There are it seems other, probably better and more accurate ways to determine how old we are. In fact, researchers have identified “biomarkers” that assess age-related changes in our body that are more accurate than CA.
Biomarkers
Many different biomarkers fall under the broad term of “biological age” (BA). One example of a biomarker is epigenetic age. Epigenetic clocks are based on DNA-methylation patterns. This is a technical term referring to the expression of our genes. Research shows that when epigenetic aging is occurring faster in the body, the person is more vulnerable to cognitive decline and dementia. He is also at a higher risk of mortality. On the other hand, those people with slowed epigenetic aging show increased physical and mental fitness, and longer life expectancy.
Scientists are now using other biomarkers to calculate BA. These include telomere attrition (i.e., a segment of DNA that reflects how quickly cells age and die), which is a fairly good predictor of longevity, and brain imaging. These measures can predict biological aging and are rigorously being used in clinical research to predict longevity.
Subjective Age May Outdo Chronological Age
A third yardstick, so to speak, to measure of how old we are is psychological age. Findings are showing that we all age on psychological level, though the preferred term is subjective age (SA). SA refers to how much younger or older a person believes himself to be, compared to his CA. SA has been shown to explain the impact that both positive and negative life events have on our goals, beliefs, even one’s behavior toward others. And – this is where it gets really interesting – a person’s SA is linked to health decisions, life satisfaction, and biological aging! In other words, our belief about how old or young we are can influence the rate of our biological aging.
The fact that there is a gap between SA and CA is not unusual. The journal Psychology and Aging reported on average, older adults feel between 10 and 21 years younger than their CA. See Subjective age from childhood to advanced old age: A meta-analysis. – PsycNET (apa.org) Also not a surprise, children do the reverse: they usually report feeling older than their CA.
There is also some speculation that bigger gaps between SA and CA are linked with greater future time perspective. This suggests a belief that we have more time to accomplish important goals in our lives.
Subjective Age Affects How We Cope with Disease
Our perceived SA plays an important role in coping with physical disease and how successfully we function as we grow older. Feeling younger, for many people, is linked to improved health status (e.g., reduced obesity and inflammation). There is even evidence that older adults with a younger SA show a younger brain age. This is measured by the volume of grey matter in key brain regions. Lastly, older SA also predicts more depression later in life – The reciprocal relationship between depression and physical morbidity: The role of subjective age – PubMed (nih.gov)
Final Thoughts
As I’ve often said, age is only a number. And as this article points out, our belief about feeling younger than our actual age plays an outsized role in how well we do in our advancing years. Imagine that: believing that I am younger than my actual age can actually impact how I function as I get older.
I’d also caution, though, that the mere belief that it is so is likely not enough. Believing without the work and dedication is nothing more than magical thinking. I would say that when we ask what’s needed to live longer and age successfully, and take on and continue these activities, the belief that we are younger than our chronological age becomes much more powerful. This affirms again that successful aging really is a matter of mindset. Perhaps Jules Renard, the 20th Century French author, said it best: It’s not how old you are, it’s how you are old.
For more detailed information by Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD on which this article is based, see Forbes
Dr. Joe Casciani is the owner and Chief Curator for the Living to 100 Club, a source of solutions to living longer and healthier, with a special focus on mindset and attitudes about aging. He has a 40-year history as a psychologist and manager of mental health practices specializing in behavioral health services with older adults. In addition to his work as a clinical consultant, he is an engaging and inspiring speaker, and helps audiences move beyond their questions and concerns about aging to create a vision of what is possible in the years ahead. He strongly believes there is value in helping people feel inspired about their future.