The Age You Feel Means More Than Your Actual Birthdate

[longknife]

A most interesting article. I had someone ask me the other day how old I feel. Without hesitation, I said sixty. (I’m 79 with 11 different doctors) Why? Because I simply don’t feel the full weight of my years and that I have a lot more still to contribute.

You?

There are many reasons why subjective age tells us so much about our health. It may be a direct result of those accompanying personality changes, with a lower subjective age meaning that you enjoy a greater range of activities (such as travelling or learning a new hobby) as you age. “Studies have found, for example, that subjective age is predictive of physical activity patterns,” Stephan says.



But the mechanism linking physical and mental wellbeing to subjective age almost certainly acts in both directions. If you feel depressed, forgetful, and physically vulnerable, you are likely to feel older. The result could be a vicious cycle, with psychological and physiological factors both contributing to a higher subjective age and worse health, which makes us feel even older and more vulnerable.

More @ The age you feel means more than your actual birthdate

 

[fncceo]

I am breaking out ...

I'm insecure ...

I think everyone hates me ...

and I suck a PE ...

I'm 14! Woo hoo!

 

[Montrovant]

Since I've never been older than I am, how can I know what it feels like to be older than I am?

 

[ABikerSailor]

You know, I've never actually felt like the age I am (54). I still ride a bicycle, like to act goofy on occasion and have a lot of fun.

 

[night_son]

A most interesting article. I had someone ask me the other day how old I feel. Without hesitation, I said sixty. (I’m 79 with 11 different doctors) Why? Because I simply don’t feel the full weight of my years and that I have a lot more still to contribute.

You?

There are many reasons why subjective age tells us so much about our health. It may be a direct result of those accompanying personality changes, with a lower subjective age meaning that you enjoy a greater range of activities (such as travelling or learning a new hobby) as you age. “Studies have found, for example, that subjective age is predictive of physical activity patterns,” Stephan says.



But the mechanism linking physical and mental wellbeing to subjective age almost certainly acts in both directions. If you feel depressed, forgetful, and physically vulnerable, you are likely to feel older. The result could be a vicious cycle, with psychological and physiological factors both contributing to a higher subjective age and worse health, which makes us feel even older and more vulnerable.

More @ The age you feel means more than your actual birthdate

At ten years from five from sixty, some days sixty feels closer and the metabolism feels like it needs a gigawatt jumpstart. On other days, the reactor reacts and twenty-somethings get to learn all about the Indian run in battalion formation. Learning your own mortality is the worst of it . . . so far.

 

[DGS49]

At 68 (and quite active) I find that while I feel that I am not "old," my body simply will not tolerate the level of activity that I want to maintain. Attitude be damned, when your body deteriorates there is not much you can do about it.