Why Do People in the Past Look So Much Older Than We Do Today? — Scientists Have an Answer

Have you ever seen a photograph of your grandparents and thought to yourself, just how much older and more mature they look compared to you or your peers? Well, it’s not just you; a lot of people have observed and asked this question too.

Why do people in the past look so much older than we do today? Science and looking back at history could help explain how, because it is not just a coincidence. It is a mix of environmental and health reasons, modern living standards, and how our brains interpret the styles of old.

Better Health and Living Make a Big Difference

Did People Used To Look Older?

Just a few decades ago, people did not have the same medical help that they take for granted today. Germs, bacteria, and viruses could spread much faster than they can be prevented. This led to the population becoming sick, either from bad water, spoiled food, or contagion.

Thanks to science and countless years of research, we now have a healthier food supply, water, and vaccines. All of these factors contribute to the rate at which our bodies age.

According to an article published in Nature, and supported by other sources, diseases could accelerate the aging process in a human’s body. It could even create a cyclical phenomenon where diseases accelerate aging, and aging can make one more prone to diseases.

Read more: PubMed Central

Smoking, Pollution, and Tough Environments

In the past, smoking was very common because of a multitude of reasons, such as being unaware of its possible health effects. People did it everywhere, even inside buildings, and these most likely contributed to their skin looking older than their age.

Whether exposure is from firsthand or secondhand smoke, it still could damage health, and just like mentioned above, diseases could lead to accelerated aging, and vice versa. Today, far fewer people smoke, and even then, there are only designated spots. The laws also help us keep it away from indoor settings or from other people getting secondhand smoke.

All of these reasons and explanations also apply to the factory smoke and city-wide pollution. With burnt coal and countless unregulated factories polluting the atmosphere, people in the past had to breathe in bad air, which contributed to their body feeling and aging much older.

Smiles and Sunscreen

Another one of the most important factors why people in the past looked older than we do today is the sun. Historically, more people decades ago worked outdoors, and before the 20th century, they did not have the right protection, such as sunscreen or proper clothing.

The pale skin in many other cultures even became a symbol of status, which indicates that the particular person did not have to do any manual labor exposed to the sun. It could mean that they are wealthy and free from the effects of exposure to sunlight.

Good or adequate dental care was also missing from these societies in the past. Their teeth often looked worn down and damaged. A healthy-looking, bright smile, from brushing, dentists’ help, and treatments like braces, helps us look younger.

Read more: Bright Side

Fashion, Hairstyles, and How We Think

Why People Looked Older in the Past

Another reason is the choice of style and what it means to us. Generations today call the 1900s clothing “old-fashioned”, which our brains directly correlate to someone older, even when a young person was wearing it. They could seem more mature, as our minds connect and associate those looks with the older generation, because that style was more common in their time.

This is a phenomenon called “retrospective aging”, a psychological perception of visual cues. In simpler words, it just meant that the way we perceive age is not just all about the physical traits, but also with cultural factors such as hairstyles and fashion choices.

Author's Final Thoughts

So, to sum it up, the people in the past, whether you saw them in person decades ago or on photographs and media, looked older than we do today because of a combination of reasons.

They aged faster because of their harsh health and environmental circumstances. Their styles of clothing and fashion trends are now associated with older age in our minds. Lastly, they do not have the modern living standards that we enjoy, but usually take for granted, which contributes to humans looking healthier and younger today.

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