The Young at Heart Show Fewer Signs of Aging

Researchers have found that people who feel younger than their age show fewer changes in their brains.

Scientists performed MRI scans on the brains of 68 healthy people between the ages of 59 and 84. The subjects also took a memory test and filled out a survey, which asked whether they felt younger or older than their age. Their overall health and cognitive abilities were also assessed.

Scientists found that participants who felt younger had a greater amount of gray matter in key regions of the brain. Gray matter is involved in information processing. They were also likely to score higher on the memory test and considered themselves to be in better health. And they were less likely to report signs of depression.

“We found that people who feel younger have the structural characteristics of a younger brain,” Jeanyung Chey, psychology professor, said. “This difference remains robust even when we account for personality, subjective health, depressive symptoms or cognitive functions.”

Researchers  suspect that those who feel older may actually be sensing their own gradual loss of gray matter, which can make cognitive tasks more difficult.

“If somebody feels older than their age, it could be a sign to evaluate their lifestyle, habits and activities. This could contribute to brain aging and take measures to better care for their brain health,” Chey said.

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