Most Older Adults Feel at Least 20 Years Younger Than They Are

A study published in the International Journal of Aging Research found older adults generally feel decades younger than their chronological age, even though they often were living with numerous illnesses, reports The Conversation . Their average age inside was 51, according to the research, with an average difference of 20 years between subjective age and chronological age. Subjects who described their gender as feminine had a younger subjective age compared to those identifying as masculine. Understanding that people who "look old" may not feel old may explain why many older adults desire to work past retirement age. There may be implications for financial planning, too. Because if a large swath of older adults feel young, they may not be saving money.