Psychology says people who look and feel younger than their age after 70 share these 10 traits - Silicon Canals

"When I asked her secret, she laughed and said, "I stopped trying to be young and started living like I actually enjoy being alive." That conversation sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole of research about what makes some people seem to defy aging after 70. The science is clear: Chronological age and biological age don't always match up. Psychologists have identified specific traits that people who look and feel younger than their years tend to share."

"Remember when you were a kid and everything was fascinating? That wide-eyed wonder doesn't have to disappear with age. Research from psychology shows that intellectual curiosity is strongly linked to cognitive preservation and life satisfaction in older adults. The youthful 70-somethings I've interviewed over the years all share this trait. They're the ones learning new languages, picking up instruments, or diving into subjects they never had time for during their working years."

Chronological age and biological age often diverge, allowing some people in their seventies to feel and appear decades younger. Psychological traits such as sustained intellectual curiosity, openness to new experiences, and adaptability correlate with preserved cognition, higher life satisfaction, and physical vitality. These traits manifest as learning new languages, picking up instruments, pursuing long-deferred interests like astronomy, and staying mentally engaged rather than pursuing cosmetic measures. Social and behavioral patterns that prioritize enjoyment of life, ongoing learning, and flexible responses to change support healthier aging and can slow cognitive and physical decline into the golden years.

Read at Silicon Canals