A new study of identical twins proves that life experiences and environmental factors have irreversible effect on how quickly or slowly our faces show age. Researchers studied 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 coded’’ to grow old the same way, said research 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 needed to research the factors that may speed up the process of growing old,’’ Dr. Guyuron said. What are the things we can control? By changing your lifestyle, can you control part of aging that would otherwise be accelerated?’’

Using still photographs of each twin set, the researchers asked an independent panel to mark differences in each twin’s appearance and whether one twin looked older than the other. They found many factors influenced facial aging, including sun exposure and smoking. Based on the research, 10 years of smoking added about 2.5 additional years of aging to a twin’s face, compared to a twin who didn’t smoke. Sun exposure, particularly among those who spent a lot more time outside playing golf or at the beachtennis, also added years to the appearance of aging.

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

Notably, antidepressant use was also associated with an older look. Researchers said it may be that depression itself increased facial aging, or it’s possible that use of antidepressant drugs relaxed facial muscles and increased the appearance of aging.

The researchers also found a stunning association between facial aging and body weight. A heavier body weight before the age of 40 was associated with an older appearance. However, in the women over 40, a heavier body mass index was related to a more youthful look, compared to a thinner twin.

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