Bibliography

Leah S. Richmond-Rakerd, Avshalom Caspi, Antony Ambler et al. (2021), Childhood self-control forecasts the pace of midlife aging and preparedness for old age – PNAS 19, 118 (3) e2010211118.

Abstract

Conscientiousness prolongs life. This is the principle suggested by Richmond-Rakerd and colleagues, who found that emotional self-control in childhood and early adolescence is predictive of a slower, healthier rate of aging and better aging preparedness.

Context

The paper is based on a New Zealand longitudinal study called the “Dunedin Longitudinal Study”. Started in the 1970s, the Dunedin collects data from a cohort of 1,037 individuals followed from birth to 45 years of age. The data are not available for public consultation but can be made available to scholars upon request. The research is based on the assumption, supported by the literature, that a good level of early emotional self-control promotes longevity. The innovative aspect of this study lies in the findings that children and young adolescents with greater self-control not only live better lives, but also age much more slowly and are much better psychologically equipped to cope with old age.

In particular, Richmond-Rakerd and colleagues tested two hypotheses. The first hypothesis aims to confirm whether individuals with better self-control in childhood show fewer signs of aging once they reach middle age. Signs of aging relate to physical appearance, particularly that of the face, as well as cognitive abilities and anatomical brain characteristics, which will be discussed later. The second hypothesis is even more ambitious and based on recent research findings on aging that show early self-control to be predictive of healthy behaviors in adulthood. Richmond-Rakerd’s study went further, seeking to test whether childhood self-control is also predictive of particular attitudes and expectations regarding the subjects’ own aging, degree of social integration, life satisfaction, and practical knowledge (as well as consequent positive behaviors) related to health and finance matters.

Study’s characteristics

The researchers measured the rate of aging by comparing a wide range of biological, physiological and psychological indicators. They were able to take advantage of brain MRI scans (albeit carried out only once at the age of 45), measurements of the volume of white matter hyperintensities (a clinical indicator of micro-lesions that increases throughout life and is predictive of a possible acceleration of cognitive decline), comparisons of facial images over time, as well as personal information. Personal information was obtained directly from the subjects or indirectly from administrative databases and reports from parents, relatives, and teachers asked to monitor any aggressive behavior, hyperactivity, or persistent inattention at regular intervals (at 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 years of age). At the age of 45, the sampled subjects were interviewed to ascertain their general level of knowledge about health and finance, as well as their attitudes towards aging and expectations about their future lives.

Outcomes

The researchers found that children with better emotional self-control reach middle age better prepared to handle the demands of aging. In essence, those who had greater self-control during childhood and early adolescence all showed signs of slower aging, in every aspect: organ health, lower volume of white matter cerebral hyperintensity, better physical condition, and more youthful in appearance. They also showed good practical knowledge of health and life sciences and had fewer financial problems. Finally, they appeared optimistic about their own aging, expressing a life expectancy of more than 75 years.

Limitations of the study

A longitudinal study on aging which limits the analysis of data to 45 years of age is in itself a limitation. However, the research has turned this insurmountable limitation into an opportunity to confirm findings and suggest avenues for future research, particularly with regard to middle-aged individuals. In fact, emotional self-control is not something that is given and fixed in time, but rather the result of many factors and a goal that can be achieved over time through life experiences. It follows that having a childhood and adolescence plagued by anxiety and impulsiveness does not definitively determine adverse aging. From this point of view, the authors emphasize that midlife represents a significant threshold in life. Midlife is a period in which changes or adjustments can be made, specifically through gaining a healthy control over one’s emotions and having the appropriate level of conscientiousness. These psychological factors are therefore crucial in influencing what is defined as healthspan, i.e., the time of life spent without serious illness or degenerative physical impairments.

New elements

This study further confirms what is claimed in the field affective neuroscience – that emotional self-regulation during childhood plays a key role in achieving a good quality of life as an adult. This awareness has long been known by those who deal with mental illness, but it is enriched by a theoretical and experimental perspective on aging, which attempts to broaden and refine the analysis of individual experiences over a lifespan.

 

Edited by Emiliano Loria


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