Want to Live Longer? Start by Feeling Younger.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that older adults who felt three or more years younger than their actual age had a lower death rate than those who felt their age or felt more than a year older. Two researchers at University College London looked further into this, comparing responses from about 6,500 men and women aged 52 and older (average age 65) who were asked, "How old do you feel you are?" About 70% said they felt three or more years younger than their actual age, 25% felt close to their actual age, and 5% felt more than a year older.

What the Follow-Up Found

Eight years after participants answered that question, researchers checked in on who was still alive. Of those who had felt older than their age, 75% were still alive. Of those who felt their actual age, 82% were still alive. And of those who felt younger than their actual age, 86% were still alive. There was no link between self-perceived age and cancer death, but researchers did find a strong relationship between self-perceived age and cardiovascular death, suggesting that feeling younger may lead to better health habits that, in turn, affect health outcomes.

Why Feeling Younger May Help

The research points to a few possible reasons. Physical exercise is one of the biggest: people who feel younger psychologically are more likely to keep exercising even when it’s challenging, while people who see themselves as old are more likely to give up on physical activity that feels difficult. Attitude toward diet may be another factor. Feeling young tends to make people think about future goals, which supports healthier eating, while feeling old can lead to an attitude of "I don't have much to live for, I might as well" that encourages less healthy choices. Feeling younger may also build a sense of resilience that helps keep people engaged and active.

Small Habits That Support Feeling Younger

Challenging yourself to try new things, learn new ideas, and build new skills keeps the "use it or lose it" pattern of human ability working in your favor. Practicing mindfulness, whether through formal meditation or simply paying attention to the present moment, can help you avoid getting stuck in regret about the past or worry about the future. And finding a sense of meaning, whether that’s connecting with people around you, supporting others, or dedicating time to something you enjoy like gardening, dancing, or theater, matters too. Constantly comparing your current physical and mental abilities to how you used to perform can make the aging process feel much harder than it needs to.