Predicting Mortality From Human Faces

Dykiert, Dominika; Bates, Timothy C.; Gow, Alan J.; Penke, Lars; Starr, John M.; Deary, Ian J.

doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e318259c33f

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…These perceived ages are only modestly correlated with actual age, but provide as strong predictions of seven-year mortality as actual age. These findings, replicated by Dykiert et al, 24 suggest that our study's interviewers may draw not only upon information explicitly collected but also on observations throughout a lengthy interview (76 minutes on average) of facial and bodily features, responsiveness, mobility, and disposition. Moreover, given that interviewer-rated health is a stronger predictor than self-rated health in the presence of most of the control variables, it seems plausible that interviewer-rated health would be as strongly associated with five-year mortality as self-rated health in a more modest interview than the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study – e.g., a survey that excludes functioning tests and has fewer health questions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Do Interviewer and Physician Health Ratings Predict Mortality?

Todd

Goldman

2013

Epidemiology

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Background Despite the serious biases that characterize self-rated health, researchers rely heavily on these ratings to predict mortality. Using newly collected survey data, we examine whether simple ratings of participants' health provided by interviewers and physicians can markedly improve mortality prediction. Methods We use data from a prospective cohort study based on a nationally representative sample of older adults in Taiwan. We estimate proportional hazard models of all-cause mortality between the 2006 interview and 30 June 2011 (mean 4.7 years follow-up). Results Interviewer ratings were more strongly associated with mortality than physician or self-ratings, even after controlling for a wide range of covariates. Neither respondent nor physician ratings substantially improve mortality prediction in models that include interviewer ratings. The predictive power of interviewer ratings likely arises in part from interviewers' incorporation of information about the respondents' physical and mental health into their assessments. Conclusions The findings of this study support the routine inclusion of a simple question at the end of face-to-face interviews, comparable to self-rated health, asking interviewers to provide an assessment of respondents' overall health. The costs of such an undertaking are minimal and the potential gains substantial for demographic and health researchers. Future work should explore the strength of the link between interviewer ratings and mortality in other countries and in surveys that collect less detailed information on respondent health, functioning, and well-being.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Do Interviewer and Physician Health Ratings Predict Mortality?

Todd

Goldman

2013

Epidemiology

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“…The relationship between older face-age and increased mortality risk was also evident in a previous data release of LBC1921 [3], and again here using updated survival information (HR 1.39 [1.19, 1.63] per SD increase in face-age; Figure 1A). People with older face-age also show signs of accelerated biological aging as measured from physiology-based indices (Pearson r~0.2) [6].…”

Section: Main Textsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…DNA methylation profiles were analysed in whole blood collected at age 79.1 years using Illumina HumanMethylation450BeadChips as previously described [2]. Perceived facial age (face-age) was assessed from neutral expression facial photographs taken at age 83.3 years (blood samples were not collected at this time point) [3]. Briefly, 12 university students (6 male, 6 female) estimated the participants ages based on high resolution photographs, taken under the same lighting conditions, at the same distance, using the same camera.…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Facial Aging with DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Age Predictions

Marioni

Belsky

Deary

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Evaluation of biological age, as opposed to chronological age, is of high relevance for interventions to increase healthy aging. Highly reproducible age-associated DNA methylation (DNAm) changes can be integrated into algorithms for epigenetic age predictions. These predictors have mostly been trained to correlate with chronological age, but they are also indicative for biological aging. For example accelerated epigenetic age of blood is associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality in later life. The perceived age of facial images (faceage) is also associated with all-cause mortality and other aging-associated traits. In this study, we therefore tested the hypothesis that an epigenetic predictor for biological age might be trained on face-age as surrogate for biological age, rather than on chronological age. Our data demonstrate that facial aging and DNAm changes in blood provide two independent measures for biological aging.

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“…Perceived age seems to be predictive of longevity beyond subjective and objective health status, and cognitive ability (Dykiert et al, 2012; Gunn, Larsen, Lall, Rexbye, & Christensen, 2016). Furthermore, perceived age has been shown to be a valid biomarker of healthy aging and a strong survival predictor of twins aged more than 70 years (Christensen et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Psychosocial Resources Associated With Perceived Facial Aging in Men?

Noser

Walther

Ehlert

2017

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

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Background: Looking younger than actual age has been related to a variety of health outcomes. Optimism, self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction are important psychosocial resources for mental health. Little is known about their relation with a younger facial appearance. Objective: This study analyzed whether these psychosocial resources are associated with a younger facial appearance and if their effects were mediated through mental health. Method: A sample of N = 223 self-reporting healthy men aged 40 to 75 years filled in questionnaires to assess optimism (Life Orientation Test–Revised), self-esteem (Multidimensional Self-Esteem Scale), relationship satisfaction (Relationship Assessment Scale), and mental health (Short-Form Health Survey). Five female raters estimated the visual age of each participant from a frontal face photograph. Results: Looking younger (compared with chronological age) was correlated with optimism, relationship satisfaction, and mental health. Mediation analyses and structural equation modeling indicated that mental health mediated the association between each psychosocial resource and a younger appearance. Discussion: The results emphasize the importance of promoting psychosocial resources and mental health in men 40+ for the maintenance of good health and the deceleration of facial aging.

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Predicting Mortality From Human Faces

Abstract: Rated age of the face is a significant predictor of mortality risk among older people, with predictive value over and above that of objective or rated health status and cognitive ability.

Cited by 27 publications

References 30 publications

Do Interviewer and Physician Health Ratings Predict Mortality?

Do Interviewer and Physician Health Ratings Predict Mortality?

Association of Facial Aging with DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Age Predictions

Are Psychosocial Resources Associated With Perceived Facial Aging in Men?

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