A new study of identical twins proves that life experiences and environmental factors have an undeniable effect on how quickly 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 the process of 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 pictures 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 many factors had to do with facial aging, including sun exposure and smoking. Based on the research, 10 years of smoking added about 2.5 extra years of aging to a twin’s face, compared to a twin who did not smoke. Sun exposure, especially among those who spent an extended amount of time outside playing golf or at the beachtennis, also added years to the appearance of aging.

Stress was also a big factor in aging. Divorced twins appeared, on average, at least two years older than a twin who was married or widowed.

It's also worth noting that antidepressant use was also associated with an older appearance. Researchers said it's possible 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 shocking relationship between facial aging and body weight. A heavier body weight before the age of 40 was associated with an older look. However, in the women over 40, a heavier body weight was associated with a more youthful look, compared to a thinner twin.

Excessive weight loss 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 research finding were published online in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All of the twins researched were women. Dr. Guyuron said future studies will study male twin sets to determine what factors influence a man’s facial aging.