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caption42 goodhealth. W e tend to think that as we get past 40 it’s all downhill – but don’t be so sure. Some scientists are now suggesting we should think of the second half of life not as a time of body decline but of body redevelopment, a stage when your body spends less energy on functions you don’t need – like fertility or pin-sharp vision – and more on things you do, like good brain function. On top of this, contrary to popular belief, most parts of our body do not deteriorate as rapidly as we think in middle age. Many things only start to change after the age of 60 – and some of these can mean that facets of health and wellbeing actually improve. Here’s what to look forward to... life with Life doesn’t just begin at 40! Many facets of health and wellbeing actually improve markedly after 50, 60 and even 70, writes Helen Foster You’re likely to make wise choices Researchers at Harvard University, in the US, found that the 50-something brain makes the best economic decisions. A North Carolina State University study showed we understand those around us better in middle age, while new research from New York’s Queen’s College found we choose nicer people as friends and lovers – and even become nicer ourselves. Partly this boost comes because we still have good analytical faculties and these, added to wisdom and life experience, create what’s been referred to as a ‘decision sweet spot’. “Over time we’re faced with a more finite future and with this realisation people are motivated to make the most of their remaining days,” says Professor Claudia Brumbaugh who conducted the Queen’s College study. “It therefore makes sense to choose sensible options, surround yourself with people who are kind and co-operative, and to become more pleasant and agreeable yourself.” You get fewer colds So say the team at The Common Cold Research Centre at the U

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caption43  down to changes in parts of the brain that are involved in menstrual cycling,” says headache expert Dr Peter Goadsby from the University of California. “All we know is that, around the age of 51, when the average woman has menopause, things do start to get better.” Be warned, though – before it gets better, it sometimes gets worse, especially during perimenopause. “This can trigger some women to take drastic measures, like seeking a hysterectomy to improve things,” says Goadsby. “Don’t do it. Just remember it’s only temporary. By all means, see your doctor and ask for help, but don’t do anything irreversible.” Your teeth may be less sensitive While gum recession can trigger sensitivity as you age, if you have healthy gums you might find that dentistry becomes far less painful. “I’ve done small fillings on older people with no anaesthetic and they don’t feel a thing – I could never even have tried it on a younger tooth,” says Dr Peter Alldritt, chairman of the Oral Health Committee for the Australian Dental Association. The reason is that as we get older, the tooth lays down more of an internal layer called gm0813agep43 - 42 2013-06-17T16:07:07+10:00

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caption44 photography getty images dentine and the diameter of the holes in its surface starts to shrink. “This means the nerves are further away from the surface and less exposed, making it less likely they’ll be stimulated,” says Alldritt. You feel more positive about life Numerous studies have shown that our ability to ignore negativity increases as we get older. Once you get to 40 you also tend to remember more positive things about your life. “And you’re less likely to label the whole day as bad just because of one untoward incident,” says Barbara Strauch in her book The Secret Your skin gets less oily Depending on your skin type this could be a good or bad thing but assuming you have oily skin, you’re going to be happy over age 35. “This happens because as we age our testosterone levels decrease and our body systems slow down a little,” says skin specialist Kim Cheah from Brisbane’s Clinic Aesthetic. “This can also mean that body and facial hair growth can slow down and you may need to wax less often.” Another bonus of getting older? You’ll find you need to use less anti-perspirant. According to US research from Pennsylvania State University, past the age of 52 we don’t sweat as much in response to high temperatures. Life of The Grown-Up Brain (Penguin, $27.95). Partly this is believed to be related to the ‘finite life’ theory that Brumbaugh mentioned – when time is running out you want to make it as happy as possible. In addition, brain scan research has found that the amygdala, the part of the brain that translates emotions, is primed to spot negative things in a younger brain, but as we get older it becomes equally stimulated by the positive. We don’t know why this happens – it could be related to when we lived in tribes and elders helped calm tense younger members. that, in fact, as a group, female runners aged between 50 and 59 knocked an average of 2.08