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Youthful facial looks decrease the risk of age-related morbidities

Linked Article: Mekić et al. Br J Dermatol 2023; https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljac100

This study taps into humankind’s quest for eternal youth. Is appearing younger, in terms of perception of facial aging, associated with differences in parameters of health and internal morbidities? A cross-sectional population-based cohort study was performed using data from the Rotterdam Study. Facial photographs of 2679 men and women aged 51–87 years of European descent were assessed by a panel of men and women blinded to chronological age and medical history. Individuals perceived to look at least five years younger than their chronological age had lower rates of osteoporosis [odds ratio (OR) 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–0.93], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77–0.95), cataracts (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73–0.97) and age-related hearing loss, and better global cognitive functioning, after adjustment for confounders. So systemic and cognitive aging are, to an extent, externally visible on the human face and can be perceived by others.

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