Think Young to Be Young

We liked this blog post from "Live Happier" that suggests we can keep young by our frame of mind. New research out this week on bees suggests that bees given the task, despite age, of caring for baby bees, stay youthful as long as they have this task to complete. Hmmm...makes a statement for avoiding retirement, or at least having a purposeful retirement. Harvard University researchers are making intriguing claims for the ‘mind over matter’ theory based on studies of how the mind controls the body. A series of studies undertaken to determine the mind’s influence on the body’s health and the ageing process are giving intriguing results following their analysis by a team of researchers at the world-famous Harvard University. It may be that the key to looking younger than you are and staying healthy longer is as simple as thinking and acting young. In one fascinating study, a number of elderly men were transported back to the late 1950s by placing them for a week in accommodation set up exactly as it was 60 years ago. TV shows and music from the period were provided, and the subjects were instructed to think and talk as they did then. Amazingly, at the week’s end, all the men looked at least three years younger, their eyesight and hearing had improved, their muscles were stronger and their minds quicker. A recent and very similar experiment was carried out as TV series, with ex-dancer and choreographer Lionel Blair living in a ‘1975 house’ for the duration of the series. Blair, 79, said afterwards he’s come out of the ‘extraordinary experience’ with the mind of a 40-year old and a body 20 years younger than his 79 years. Researchers into the psychology of ageing suggest much of the decline seen may be caused by negative perceptions of the ageing process, and agree breaking these down really can improve health in later years. Another study revealed older women who had their hair cut and coloured not only looked younger, but also had reduced blood pressure. Psychologist Dr Ellen Langer is convinced we have far more control over our well-being than we know. She believes just thinking young can have a powerful effect on both health an appearance without the need for expensive surgical procedures – all we need is the determination not to ‘buy in’ to old age.