Looking younger can be a sign that people are at lower risk of age-related diseases.
This is shown by the results of a study.
Dry skin and wrinkles are typical signs of aging.
There are other signs, some of which are less obvious, that people may be aging too quickly.
A group of researchers from the Netherlands is now investigating what appearance has to do with age-related diseases.
They came to a revealing conclusion: A naturally younger appearance can indicate that the person suffers less frequently from certain diseases in old age.
Aging: Those who look younger are less likely to suffer from age-related diseases
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Looking five years younger can be a sign of a lower risk of disease.
© Cavan Images/IMAGO
In their study, the team led by Dr.
Selma Mekic from University Medical Center Rotterdam for a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Rotterdam study with a Dutch cohort.
This was data from almost 2,700 participants, who were on average 66 years old.
Scientists from the team were asked to use facial photos to estimate and classify the people's ages into five-year categories.
The difference between actual and perceived age was then calculated.
The researchers looked at how a young-for-your-age-looking face was associated with fewer age-related diseases.
The results of the study showed that a person who looks five years younger than their chronological age may have a lower risk of various age-related diseases.
A 24 percent lower risk of osteoporosis was therefore associated.
The risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in which most patients are over 60 years old, was also 15 percent lower.
The risk of cataracts and age-related hearing loss was also reduced by 16 percent.
At the same time, cognitive abilities were better.
"The study suggests that both physical and cognitive health are related to facial appearance," say the researchers.
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Aging: Cellular aging as a possible reason for lower risk of disease in younger-looking people
The scientists possibly attribute the connection between a younger-looking face and the lower risk of age-related diseases to cell aging.
Because an older-looking face and wrinkles are related to increased cell aging of the skin and a shorter telomere length.
Telomeres are protective caps that are located at the ends of the chromosomes and protect them from all kinds of damage.
They naturally become shorter with each cell division.
Telomeres are a good way to determine a person's biological age.
Now, according to the research group, perceived age versus actual age offers potential as a biomarker for disease.
It could also be considered as an additional clinical sign during examinations.
The results of the study thus suggest that both systemic and cognitive aging are visible and readable on the human face to some extent.
However, the design of the study does not allow conclusions to be drawn about a causal relationship.
Nutrition against aging: ten foods you should avoid
Telomeres are considered markers that indicate a person's biological age and play an important role in the aging process.
They are located at the end of the chromosomes as protective caps and become shorter with each cell division.
Diseases can contribute to the shortening.
Proper nutrition is therefore all the more important.
If you want to look younger for longer, you should therefore also critically review your coffee consumption.
Because coffee can be a real pick-me-up.
However, it also increases the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which contributes to the aging of the skin.
© Bernd Juergens/IMAGO
For many people, butter always belongs on their bread.
It has a high density of saturated animal fatty acids, which promote inflammation in the body, increase cholesterol levels and thus shorten the telomeres.
© Eivaisla/IMAGO
If you want your skin to stay firm and supple for a long time, then stay away from sweets.
The sugar they contain not only promotes inflammation, but also causes the skin to age faster.
Because the short-chain carbohydrates destroy the two proteins collagen and elastin, which normally keep the skin taut.
© Westend61/IMAGO
Dairy products can also lead to faster aging.
They not only promote inflammation in the body, but are broken down into lactose during digestion.
This ultimately harms the body's own collagen production.
With increasing age, it is also more difficult for the body to digest the lactose contained in milk.
Therefore, dairy products such as yoghurt or cheese should not be eaten in large quantities.
© Alex9500/IMAGO
AlcoholAlcohol is a cytotoxin and at the same time draws fluid from the body.
Both are not only harmful to health, but also make people look older on the outside.
However, when it comes to alcohol, quantity and quality are also important.
For example, red wine contains resveratrol.
The polyphenol protects the skin by binding free radicals.
This allows the skin to age healthily.
© Ezequiel Gimà nez/IMAGO
SausagesProcessed sausage and meat products contain a lot of salt and high amounts of saturated fatty acids and additives.
This combination can cause telomeres to shrink and age faster.
© Photology2000/IMAGO
French fries Eating French fries can also accelerate the aging process.
When frying, the high heat creates a lot of trans fats.
They can negatively affect telomere length.
© avq/IMAGO
Glass with cola Not only the sugar contained in soft drinks such as lemonade is harmful to health.
Cola, for example, also contains phosphoric acid.
She is suspected of weakening the bones.
Low bone density can in turn lead to bone loss, also known as osteoporosis, and accelerate aging.
© Kitch/IMAGO
Salt on a spoon Salt can also have a negative effect on aging.
Too much of the popular spice, for example, makes the face puffy and darkens the circles under the eyes.
Foods such as instant sauces or chips that contain a lot of salt also cause water to be retained in the body.
In addition, the sodium it contains removes important calcium from the bones and increases blood pressure.
However, salt should not be avoided entirely.
With the help of yoghurt, bananas or dried fruit, for example, the salt can be balanced with potassium.
© Orcea David/IMAGO
ChipsParticipants in one study who ate more than three servings of highly processed foods daily had twice the risk of shortened telomeres than those who ate one serving or less of processed foods per day.
These foods include, for example, crisps, white bread, cakes, pastries, chocolate and ready meals.
© "ungvar"/IMAGO
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
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