A new study of identical twins shows that life experiences and environmental factors have a big effect on how fast or slowly our faces age. Researchers recruited nearly 200 sets of identical twins who were attending the annual twin festival in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Twin research is especially useful in the study of aging because twins are “genetically programmed’’ to age the same way, said study author Dr. Bahman Guyuron, chairman of the department of plastic surgery at the University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University. As a result, any perceived differences in appearance among twins can give clues as to what environmental and lifestyle factors can strongly influence aging, he said.
“We wanted to look at the factors that may accelerate aging,’’ Dr. Guyuron said. “What are the things we can control? By changing your behaviors, can you control part of aging that would otherwise be speeded up?’’
Using still photographs of each twin set, the researchers asked an independent panel to rate differences in each twin’s appearance and whether one twin looked older than the other. They found several factors influenced facial aging, including sun exposure and smoking. Based on the assessment, 10 years of smoking added about 2.5 additional years of aging to a twin’s face, compared to a twin who didn’t smoke. Sun exposure, particularly among those who spent a lot of time outside playing golf or tennis, also increased the appearance of aging.
Stress also appeared to be a factor in aging. Divorced twins appeared, on average, at least two years older than a twin who was married or widowed.
Notably, antidepressant use was also associated with an older appearance. Researchers said it may be that depression itself increased facial aging, or it’s possible that use of antidepressant drugs relaxed facial muscles in a way that increased the appearance of aging.
The researchers also found a surprising relationship between facial aging and body weight. A heavier body weight before the age of 40 was associated with an older appearance. However, in the women over 40, a heavier body mass index was associated with a more youthful look, compared to a thinner twin.
“Excessive loss of weight can be detrimental to youthfulness and attractiveness,’’ Dr. Guyuron said. “It’s a warning if you lose too much weight after the age of 40.’’
The findings were published online in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All of the twins studied were women. Dr. Guyuron said future studies will look at male twin sets to determine what factors influence a man’s facial aging.
Source: nytimes.com
Source: nytimes.com
