What Predicts "Aging Well"?
 

Okay. Here is a disgustingly superficial topic. Feel free to despise me.

What determines if a man or a woman will "age well"? That means, here, that he or she will have an attractive face as a forty, fifty, sixty, seventy year old man or woman?

Can you point to specific facial characteristics that are likely to result in "aging well"? Racial, morphological, genetic factors? Do you think you can predict accurately? Can you show examples?

I told you this was a superficial topic.

Incidentally, no need to single out "being Asian" as an "aging well" factor. I mean, everyone knows that :-)

Education, that's all. Oh, genetics helps.

My opinion: Genetics certainly don't hurt, but I think 90-95% of the end result is determined by how the person takes care of themselves. Have they stayed in shape (exercise) or sat on their butt? Did they get fat or stay thin (too thin seems to be bad too)? Did they eat well or stuff their face with McDonalds? Do they drink, smoke, party, do drugs often?

Smoking and drinking and doing drugs will age you at an accelerated pace.
Eating like crap and being heavy will age you.
Not staying in shape will often cause you to age.

I think mental outlook has something to do with it too. A combination of a positive outlook and thinking/feeling young. It seems like folks that give up.

I think there are folks that can be genetic outliers that can do whatever they want and still age well and other folks who will do everything right and still fall apart early.

I suspect that unless you are compatible at a far less superficial level, likely you'll not really care what they might look like a couple of decades later.

Genetics, mostly. Whether you put easy or hard miles on yourself comes in second.

I think this is pretty easy. Protect yourself from exposure to the sun...

Having done that for your whole life... If you were blessed with an attractive image...Maintain a BMI that is not such that it obscures your features..

Protecting your face from the sun is a really good starting point..

I think masraum mentioned everything except sun damage. Over exposure will do it's damage to your skin over time.

1. Don't smoke.
2. Drink in moderation.
3. Have a compatible spouse. Incompatible spouse has huge negative consequences.
4. Exercise daily even if it just a half hour brisk walk.
5. Compatible spouse with similar interests helps.
6. Keep weight within your BMI range.
7. Have a medical yearly. Prostate okay, blood pressure, colonoscopy etc ?
8. Eat healthily.
9. Good genes helps.
10. Keep moving as a moving object tends to stay in motion.
11. Cycling, skiing etc keeps the big muscles moving.

Guy

PS. By staying fit it should help keep you looking younger.

Genetics is first. If you do not have that, good habits will only take you so far.

Individual habits and habitus. You will not see any really old, really fat people. You see the odd smoker that makes it to a ripe old age, but they are never fat.

I have been very fortunate on choice of parents and personal habits, hence, figure to live a long time. People simply do not believe I am as old as I am when they see me, and just cannot wrap their heads around the fact that I have an 8 year old grand son.

Yep, had thought of that one, but forgot to put it down while I was typing. Sun is a big one.

+1 on genetics. That is the ace few people have. I know folks who have partied their entire life, really hard, and at my age look 20 years younger than me. Yes I have terrible genetics.

Minus being gifted the genetics then having money and some brains to use it wisely.

At the very basic: heredity, upbringing, environment.

As others have pointed out, genetics play a big role. Some people are just born with it.

Upbringing. If your parents showed you how, you will take care of yourself.

Environment. Your peers can show you how. Also the physical environment. Access to health care. Relatively clean air, water supply. Access to quality food.

Major Factors after genetics.

Alcohol
Smoking
Diet
Exercise

Something eventually kills you, but not taking care of yourself in middle-age most likely will leave you popping pills later in life like Beer-Nuts and generally feeling and looking like shyte...helluva way to live the last 5-7 years of your life.

When questioned, #1 regret of the terminally ill and dying was abusing their body.

Yes.
I'm 68 and easily pass for 58 and younger.
It's my mom's genes. (Liz Claiborne, I think - old joke).
She's 94 and looks early 70's.
When I hurt or cut myself, I heal almost immediately.
.
~~~~~~~~
.
"I have been very fortunate on choice of parents..."
.
You had a hand in choice of parents? ;)

Ankles.

Was there not a vote on here a long time ago by the meds on board? The end ans was most men will die with Prostate C. Not of it.
It is best to leave it alone .(most cases) Cause the cure will kill you.

Add money to the list.

Not having it (and constantly chasing it) shortens your life, at least in western societies. Having it helps pay your medical bills and reduces stress.

Stress. Add that to the list too.

Thanks for the advice , Doc.

as per PBS last week

the length of the end bit of your chromosomes
called a telamer

Yup.

I agree genetics seem to be primarily what determines "aging well." I heard or read something a long time ago that we could possibly live to be 120 except for what we do to ourselves when we are younger. By the way some study determined standing up lengthens the telomeres, so I guess never sitting or lying down would help. Plus some people just seem to have one foot in the grave. That can't help.

Was a Q. as i remember it.

Marv, if all else fails, the thing that gets you in the end is renal failure. If I recall correctly, you start to lose 1% per year when you are 30, and can survive on 5% kidney function. Pencils out to 125 is the top end for human lifespan.

Another thing that matters is how tough the individual is. Some people have a lot of quit in them, some are unfamiliar with the concept of quit.

As others have said, Masraum provided the correct essentials. It is all about what you do with yourself.

Diet, exercise, healthy mental outlook, no vices.

Genetics is a useful component, but not the largest part. Those who think otherwise are just making excuses for themselves. Race might make one think genetics plays a larger role, but in fact it is the cultural practices common to some races that encourage healthy living, which leads to aging well.

I'm 51, and look 10+ years younger, 5'8", 160 lbs. I lift daily, run daily (sub-6 minute miles), hike, ski, and mix a lot of concrete around the house. I eat normal food, in normal quantities. Never smoked. Never drugs. Rarely drink (an occasional glass of whiskey, enjoyed slowly, and never more than one one). I like my work.

My brother is 50, and looks 10+ years older. Super nice guy. I would say we are genetically very similar, maybe almost identical (looked like twins as kids). He hasn't seen his toes in years. He doesn't exercise. Loves wine and beer. Loves food. Didn't like his job for decades. Recently quit and started a new business. We'll see if that helps.

DG