The Influence of Age-Related Cues on Health and Longevity

The study examined the impact of age-related cues on health and longevity in five contexts. Women who felt younger after hair treatments had lower blood pressure and looked younger in photos. Uniforms, which remove age cues, were linked to lower morbidity. Prematurely bald men had higher risks of prostate cancer and coronary heart disease. Older mothers with younger cues lived longer. Significant spousal age differences affected longevity, with younger spouses living shorter lives and older spouses living longer. These results indicated that perceptions of age and related cues significantly influenced health outcomes.