Men from the inner-city group tended to age about 10 years faster than the Harvard men. But inner-city men who had a college education aged the same rate as the Harvard men. Education is a factor that shows some personal control that makes an enormous difference in how well people age. Researchers also point out that depression is a powerful predictor of having poor aging later on. Christopher Colenda, MD, former chairperson of the Council on Aging for the American Psychiatric Association, says that the findings are very reassuring in that they point out what helps distinguish people having successful and healthy lifestyles as they age versus those factors that predict less healthy life.
Depression reduces health status when it occurs in late life.
But the good news is that we have treatment for depression. Colenda says that individuals can make choices about their lifestyle, which can promote health and adaptation in later life. These choices can also protect against diseases that can cause premature disability and diminished quality of life. But he points out that the study only focused on a selected group of people, white men. The study was published in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.