How Old Am I?

Ageing is a universal human phenomenon, but there is considerable variability in how people experience and perceive ageing. Subjective age (SA) is a measure of the age individuals perceive themselves to be, regardless of their actual chronological age. Research has shown significant variability in subjective perceptions of ageing, with some individuals reporting that they feel older than their chronological age, while others report feeling significantly younger. Ageing research has highlighted subjective age because it has demonstrated relevance to various health outcomes late in life, including physical health, self-rated health, life satisfaction, symptoms of depression, cognitive decline, and dementia. These relationships indicate that SA may be an essential construct for understanding individual differences in the ageing process.