“As people age, they can develop a ‘shell’ or become shy about participating in things…..and learning to socialize and be a part of a group so helps remove that issue” – Dr. John Verheul
Have you ever approached a birthday and said, “I just don’t FEEL XX years old…” This is happy news for you!
See a pile of leaves and remember how much fun it was to jump in the middle, and then do it? Lick the beaters clean from cake batter still? Openly hate Kale and secretly love indulging in an occasional bowl of Cocoa Puffs or picking the marshmallow bits out of Lucky Charms? Never hesitate to getting on all fours and playing with your dog in a game of tug a war with a sock? Maybe you just feel better playing your favorite music a little louder than normal as you try a few headstands just to see if you can still do it?
Keep at this seemingly childish behavior if you can, say researchers, who urge us all to preserve the youthful exuberance and curiosity …and maybe flaunt telling your real age if you have invested in exercise, watched your weight and consulted with good plastic surgeons or dermatologists who keep your face and body in tiptop shape.
Most importantly, as we get into our more vulnerable later years, keep the fires of human contact, family and friendship burning bright. Laugh more and judge less. Forgive trespasses and smile and choose to be happy. All of this advice might be the real thing that helps you live a longer life.
A remarkable study shows that group of people who feel younger than their actual age have a lower death rate compared with those who felt their age or who even feel older than their years.
JAMA Internal Medicine online looked at data from from 6,489 people with an average age of 65.8 years who reported that they felt a little less than 10 years younger, and the majority of folks in the study didn’t feel their actual age. Most said they felt about three years younger. And 4.8% felt at least a year older than their chronological age.
The University College London researchers then followed up on these people over the next eight years, the scientists found only a little over 14% of those who felt younger than their years had passed away. That was compared with the more than 24% of the people who reported feeling older or feeling their age who had died. Some 18% of the people who felt like their chronological age died in that same time period.
The key, researches believe, is the happiness factor.
“Possibilities include a broader set of health behaviors than we measured (such as maintaining a healthy weight and adherence to medical advice), and greater resilience, sense of mastery and will to live among those who feel younger than their age,” the study says. “Self-perceived age has the potential to change, so interventions may be possible. Individuals who feel older than their actual age could be targeted with health messages promoting positive health behaviors and attitudes toward aging.”
Optimism and conscientiousness, the wheelhouse of the extrovert, is a life extender, researchers claim.
Aging well can often be as much a choice as good fortune, says Dr. John Verheul, MD, MPH, a personalized care physician with SignatureMD, with a specialty in geriatrics. In an interview, he counsels the oldest patients he sees to keep extending themselves beyond their isolating four walls.
Dr. Verheul says, “Socializing helps people stop internalizing and helps take their mind off of their own issues. They become a part of a group and feel like they are contributing in some way. By talking and sharing stories with people the feeling of being needed and wanted returns. They’ve stopped focusing on the negative things in their lives and begin a state of happiness related to the social interactions/relationships they’ve been able to create.”
Social skills and manners are part of keeping the human brain from atrophy, as important as a crossword puzzle or Sudoku.
“Some ways include learning to listen and not just always talk about your own issues,” shares Dr. Verheul. “[And] learning to use a computer, and learning to arrange transportation for one self as needed.”
Dr. Verheul plays a sort of “matchmaker” with his own patients in socializing them, creating a “Signature for Singles” event where his patients have created friendships with each other. “For example, I have more mobile patients going over and picking up other patients who have difficulty moving around and going out for lunch or volunteer opportunities.”
As for the most effective ways to increase the quality of life for all of us as we age?
Dr. Verheul says, “Getting involved in activities, and participating in organizations where you can give back some of your skills. This is so important in that all people need and want to feel needed…Start developing hobbies NOW and skills that will allow you to participate in organizations (like learning to use a “ham” radio) when you retire and have more free time.”
