Beauty for Health and Longevity: Insights from Wellbeing, Neuroscience, and Epigenetics

Yamada H

Published on: 2024-05-03

Abstract

This review explores the relationship between beauty and anti-aging from the perspectives of wellbeing, neuroscience, and epigenetics. Contrary to the conventional notion that "health makes you beautiful," it proposes that "beauty makes you healthy and slows down aging." The pursuit of beauty may contribute to extending a healthy lifespan and rejuvenation through brain activation and epigenetic mechanisms. Wellbeing, which encompasses physical, mental, social, and environmental health, is closely linked to beauty. The perception of beauty activates the brain's reward system, stimulating positive emotions, memory, and thinking. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs, play a significant role in the aging process and may be influenced by the experience of beauty. The growing demand for aesthetic medicine in modern society is highlighted, along with the need to address challenges such as the excessive pursuit of beauty and ethical concerns. Future aesthetic medicine should consider individual differences and provide comprehensive care based on scientific evidence. Long-term follow-up studies, clarification of individual differences, and establishment of ethical guidelines are identified as future research priorities. Insights from aesthetics, including neuroscience and epigenetics, can contribute to evidence-based aesthetic medicine and effective anti-aging strategies.

Keywords

Beauty; Anti-aging; Wellbeing; Neuroscience; Epigenetics

Introduction

Growing Interest in Beauty and Anti-Aging in an Aging Society

The rapidly aging population in developed countries is increasing the social need for beauty and extending healthy life expectancy. In a capitalist economy, appearance is increasingly seen as the fourth capital [1], and investment in beauty is growing. Seemingly contradictory ideas exist regarding the relationship between beauty and health: "If you are healthy, you are beautiful" and "If you are beautiful, you are healthy." These ideas suggest the importance of physical, mental, social, and environmental health in Wellbeing. From previous research on the relationship between beauty and anti-aging, we have summarized the ideas about the impact of beauty on health and Wellbeing.

Materials And Methods (Review)

Purpose and Significance of this Study: New Approaches from The Perspectives of Wellbeing, Neuroscience, and Epigenetics

This review aims to provide a new look at the relationship between beauty and anti-aging from the perspective of Wellbeing [2], Neuroscience, and Epigenetics, and from the perspective of Anti-Aging Medicine. In this way, it is not only beautiful if you are healthy, but also healthy to beautify and to become. It is advancing a healthy life span. Furthermore, I want to present the idea that it is effective in Wellbeing. I propose a new approach to extend healthy life span and rejuvenation.

The Role of Beauty in Wellbeing and Healthy Life Extension

Concepts and Components of Wellbeing: Physical, Mental, Social, and Environmental Health

Wellbeing [3] refers to a state in which physical, mental, social, and environmental health are all fulfilled. Beauty is closely related to self-confidence, self-esteem, relationships, and living environment, and significantly impacts overall Wellbeing. (Table 1-A.)

Table 1A: What is Wellbeing? A Comprehensive Definition

Wellbeing is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses an individual's overall state of health and happiness. It goes beyond the mere absence of disease or illness, considering the following key dimensions:

Wellbeing is essential for a fulfilling and meaningful life. It has a profound impact on various aspects of our lives, including: Physical Health: Mental Health: Relationships: Productivity: Resilience:

Physical Wellbeing

Healthy Body
Energy levels
Body Image

Mental Wellbeing

Positive Emotions
Resilience
Self-acceptance

Social Wellbeing

Strong Relationships
Sense of Community
Social Support

Environmental Wellbeing

Safe and Secure Environment
Financial Stability
Connection to Nature

Physical Health: If you are physically healthy, you can stay active and cope better with stress. Physical health also helps people feel more confident, which shows in their outward appearance.

Mental Health: Feeling beautiful increases self-confidence and self-esteem. Feeling beautiful also enhances one's reputation among those around one and facilitates good relationships.

Social Health: Feeling beautiful can motivate people to participate in social activities and deepen their social connections.

Environmental Health: Feeling beautiful motivates people to improve their living environment.

Thus, the ideas of "if you are healthy, you are beautiful" and "if you are beautiful, you are healthy" are based on the common foundation of Wellbeing; to enhance Wellbeing, it is important to value all aspects of health: physical, mental, social, and environmental.

In addition, the impact of beauty on Wellbeing: self-affirmation, social interaction, and self-care practices. Pursuing beauty contributes to improved Wellbeing through increased self-esteem, increased social interactions, and the habit of self-care.

Intrinsic Capacity (IC) [4] and Anti-Aging Medicine

In recent years, with the development of anti-aging medicine, IC has gained attention; IC is a comprehensive measure of an individual's intrinsic capacity [3]. IC consists of the following five domains.

Table 1B: Intrinsic Capacity as proposed by WHO

IC is closely related to wellbeing. IC is seen as an important indicator for minimising age-related decline and achieving 'healthy ageing' or 'better ageing’.

IC refers to an individual's innate capacity for natural healing, self-healing and mental and physical potential.

Locomotor Capacity: motor skills, muscle strength, endurance, balance, flexibility
Cognitive Capacity: memory, attention, thinking, judgment, learning ability
Psychological Capacity: emotional regulation, stress coping, self-esteem, happiness, optimism
Social Capacity: relationships, social participation, contribution to society
Vitality Capacity: economic stability, safe living environment, accessible healthcare, social support

These domains have a significant impact on an individual's health status as well as quality of life (QOL). Anti-aging medicine aims to extend and rejuvenate healthy life expectancy by maintaining and improving IC [4]. IC has the potential to be a powerful tool for more effectively measuring an individual's health and wellbeing.

Importance of Beauty in Extending Healthy Life Expectancy: Improving Lifestyle and Reducing Biological Age

The pursuit of beauty has the potential to contribute to healthier life expectancy through the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the suppression of biological age.

Apparent Age. (Table 2) [5]

Table 2: Appearance and Aging: A Comprehensive Explanation Based on Scientific Evidence

Appearance is divided into skin, appearance and body shape. Appearance is better viewed as one of the phenotypes of the organism. It is considered the final form of a complex biological response.

Level	Aging Phenomenon	Cause	Symptoms	Mechanism	Countermeasures
Skin	Extrinsic Aging	UV radiation, smoking, air pollution	Wrinkles, sagging, enlarged pores, dullness	ROS damage, collagen and elastin loss, reduced cell turnover, poor circulation	Sunscreen, smoking cessation, skincare, massage, exercise
	Intrinsic Aging	Cellular replication, DNA damage	Loss of skin firmness and elasticity, dryness, uneven skin tone, changes in facial complexion	Collagen and elastin loss, reduced cell turnover, poor circulation	Anti-aging cosmetics, supplements, hormone replacement therapy
Facial	Photoaging	UV radiation	Wrinkles, sagging, sunspots, dullness	Collagen and elastin breakdown, reduced cell turnover	Sunscreen, skincare
	Intrinsic Aging	Cellular replication, DNA damage	Loss of skin firmness and elasticity, uneven skin tone, changes in facial complexion	Collagen and elastin loss, reduced cell turnover, poor circulation	Anti-aging cosmetics, supplements, hormone replacement therapy
	Facial Expressions	Smiling, frowning	Wrinkles, sagging	Strain on facial muscles	Facial muscle training, expression management
	Facial Muscle Weakening	Age	Sagging face	Weakened facial muscles	Facial muscle training, massage
Body Shape	Skeletal Changes	Age	Curvature of the spine, widening of the pelvis, smaller face	Decreased bone density, loosened ligaments	Exercise, stretching, bone density supplements
	Fat Distribution	Age, hormonal changes, lack of exercise, stress	Increased body fat percentage, visceral fat increase, subcutaneous fat increase	Decreased basal metabolic rate, reduced energy expenditure	Exercise, diet restriction, stress management

For biological beauty, the eight pillars of beauty from a biological perspective (Grammer et al. 2003) are known to be youthfulness, symmetry, average, sex hormone levels, body odor, body movement, skin color (complexion; not just color), and hair texture. These factors are all important and can make a healthy individual look rough. The correlation between biological age and apparent age may also be important [6].

The Relationship between Apparent Age and Health Status

In a telomere length study, apparent age indicates life expectancy [6]. Furthermore, in a study focusing on monozygotic twins, it was found that, smoking and stress accelerated apparent aging [7,8]. People with high facial attractiveness have been found to have higher immunity to generalized bacteria in the blood [9]; advances in AI have made it possible to estimate age from facial photographs [10] and from deep learning in images that were previously impossible to determine. It is also possible to differentiate health status, cognitive ability Alzheimer [11] and search for coronary artery disease. This shows that appearance correlates with many more internal conditions than previously thought.

The Dunedin Study [12] is essential, at least in terms of health and appearance.

The Dunedin Study is [13] a long-term epidemiological study initiated in New Zealand in 1972. It is exciting in terms of the relationship between appearance and aging. Functional tests are still being examined on an ongoing basis, including blood tests, brain function tests and even socio-economic status. The participants' apparent age was measured using their mugshots. In addition, participants were surveyed regularly. In addition, biological age measurements of DNA methylation were carried out. It was shown that people with a younger appearance tended to have a younger biological age. It was also found that people who look younger tend to have a lower risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, as well as chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, it was shown that people with a younger appearance tended to have a lower risk of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. In relation to socio-economic status, it was shown that people who look younger tend to have higher levels of education, higher incomes, and better jobs. Even at the same age, there was a 10-year gap in biological age, indicating that people who look younger are also biologically younger [14] In biological age measurements of DNA methylation, it was also found that people who look younger indicate a younger age [15]. The results of this study indicate that there is a close relationship between appearance and aging. Biological, psychosocial, and lifestyle mechanisms may be involved in this relationship. An awareness of lifestyle and beauty care may help people to look younger and lead healthier lives. It was also found that people who look younger tend to be healthier and have younger brain function.

However, at least in people, beauty is pursued even beyond youth. This underscores the importance of self-satisfaction and belonging to the realm of pleasure. This is said to produce inner beauty, self-confidence self-affirmation, and the joy of being a person through the pursuit of beauty.

The pursuit of beauty, through cosmetic dermatology and cosmetic surgery, may contribute to the rejuvenation of the appearance of age. Apparent age is influenced by the following factors:

Biological age refers to the aging process that occurs at the cellular level, such as the number of cell divisions and DNA methylation. Currently, internal aging can be measured with the Epigenetic clock [16]. Various aging clocks have been devised, but Epigenetics is currently the most accurate [17].

External factors include environmental damage and stress, such as ultraviolet rays and air pollution.

Lifestyle: Habits such as diet, exercise, sleep, smoking, and alcohol consumption have a significant impact on the apparent age of the body [18].

Genetics: Genetic factors can also affect the appearance of a person's age.

Lifestyle interventions [19], including caloric restriction [20], stress reduction, the Mediterranean diet [21], and exercise [22], have been shown to suppress biological age (Epigenetic clock). Through these, beauty can affect Epigenetics in the brain, a mechanism that regulates gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, influencing the aging process [23], such as the number of cell divisions and DNA methylation.

Protection from external factors: Beauty care can help protect the skin from external factors such as UV rays and air pollution through skin care and UV protection.

Healthy lifestyle: Pursuing beauty promotes a healthy diet and exercise habits. A healthy lifestyle contributes not only to a younger appearance but also to a younger biological age.

Overcoming Genetic Factors: The pursuit of beauty has the potential to overcome the effects of genetic factors on apparent age. For example, even if a person is genetically predisposed to wrinkles, the appearance of wrinkles can be delayed using skin care and anti-aging cosmetics.

The Relationship between Beauty and Anti-Aging from the Viewpoint of Brain Science

Brain Mechanisms for Perception of Beauty

Neuroscientific studies have shown that the medial orbitofrontal cortex [24] is activated when beauty is perceived, and the reward system is involved. The stronger the feeling of beauty, the greater the activity, increasing the sense of wellbeing [25]. Differences in results are reported for different objects, such as works of art, seasons, faces, and body types.

Effects of Beauty on the Brain and its Effects: Positive Emotions, Memory, and Thinking

Seeing and feeling beautiful things can be expected to increase positive emotions, improve memory by activating the hippocampus, and improve thinking by activating the prefrontal cortex.

Stimulation of the beauty center: Seeing and feeling beauty stimulates the beauty center in the brain. This stimulation produces positive emotions and reduces stress.

Increased positive emotions: Feeling beauty causes the brain to release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and positive emotions such as happiness and relaxation.

Activation of the hippocampus: The hippocampus is a brain region involved in memory and learning. Perceiving beauty activates the hippocampus, which may lead to improved memory and learning. The strength of aesthetic attractiveness promotes activation of the face-specific brain network area for attractive faces, which consists of a series of patches in the occipital and temporal lobes.

Activation of the prefrontal cortex: The prefrontal cortex is a brain region involved in thinking, judgment, and planning. Perceiving beauty may activate the prefrontal cortex, leading to improved thinking, judgment, and planning (Ferrari et al. 2015). Beauty may be perceived in the medial orbitofrontal cortex.

Increased serotonin secretion: Serotonin is a relaxing neurotransmitter. Perceiving beauty increases serotonin secretion, which may lead to relaxation and stress reduction effects. Additionally, there may be neuronal elongation associated with increased blood flow to the brain.

Stress is reported to be involved in DNA methylation in the brain to advance aging as an epigenetic clock. With epigenetic control now becoming possible, it is natural to feel that external stimuli may affect other parts of the body via the brain, reducing beauty. From this standpoint, it is possible to take beauty one step further, from health to beauty, and making people beautiful will give them health and pleasure [26].

For patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), make-up is more than just a way to rejuvenate their appearance; it is an activity that can significantly improve cognitive function and inner health. A Japanese study [27] reported that women with MCI who wore make-up for one month had, on average, a younger appearance and increased their scores on cognitive function tests. Make-up increases self-confidence and mood and causes physiological changes such as increased neurotransmitter secretion and cerebral blood flow. Make-up is also a brain stimulant, as the act demands cognitive processes such as attention, planning, and executive functions. Make-up can increase self-efficacy and self-esteem, reduce anxiety about cognitive decline and aging, and increase opportunities for communication with others and social participation, thereby reducing feelings of isolation and depression. In other words, not only does health bring beauty, but becoming beautiful can lead to health, which may involve pleasure and other circuits in wellbeing.

Anti-Aging Strategies Based on Brain Science Findings: Active Incorporation of Aesthetic Experiences

Based on brain science findings, it is recommended that aesthetic experiences be actively incorporated as an anti-aging strategy. Increasing opportunities to experience beauty can stimulate and positively affect the brain. Furthermore, starting in 2019, the WHO is leading research into the effect of art on health through its Behavioral and Cultural Insights program [28].

Relationship between Beauty and Anti-Aging from the Viewpoint of Epigenetics

Epigenetics Concepts and their Impact on Aging: DNA Methylation, Histone Modifications, microRNAs

Epigenetics is a mechanism that regulates gene expression without altering the DNA sequence and has a significant impact on aging; it involves mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs. The impact of beauty on Epigenetics may be the suppression of aging-related gene expression. The feeling of beauty may affect Epigenetics mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs in the brain and may suppress the expression of aging-related genes.

In other words, brain activation through beauty and lifestyle improvement are recommended as an anti-aging strategy based on Epigenetics [29]. The feeling of beauty is expected to positively affect the Epigenetics mechanism in the brain and inhibit aging.

Results And Discussion

Current Status and Issues in Cosmetic Medicine

The Role of Aesthetic Medicine in Modern Society and the Growing Demand

Today, the demand for cosmetic medicine is proliferating. Economic affluence has increased the need for beauty, and advances in anti-aging medicine have increased the desire for beauty among middle-aged and older adults. On the other hand, challenges to cosmetic medicine include excessive pursuit of beauty, a uniform view of beauty, and ethical issues. It is important to note that in some areas, extreme thinness is particularly detrimental to women's health due to the misconception that thinness is beautiful. Excessive craving for beauty can be detrimental to health and lead to sexual, ethnic, and age discrimination. In terms of body shape, it is also necessary to understand the concept of “body positive” [30], a way of thinking that respects the diversity of one's body shape and loves and accepts oneself just as one is.

Prospects for Aesthetic Medicine for Wellbeing and Healthy Life Extension

Future cosmetic medicine should take an approach that considers individual differences. More effective anti-aging can be expected by providing aesthetic medicine that is tailored to one's physical constitution, age, and lifestyle. Scientific verification of anti-aging effects and comprehensive care are expected as new possibilities for cosmetic medicine. More effective anti-aging can be achieved by objectively evaluating the effects of cosmetic medicine and by taking both a physical and mental approach.

Conclusion

New perspectives on the relationship between beauty and anti-aging are summarized. The relationship between beauty and anti-aging is newly examined from perspectives on Well-being, neuroscience, and epigenetics. Contrary to the conventional idea that "health makes you beautiful," the article argues that "beauty makes you healthy and slows down aging." Pursuing beauty may contribute to extending a healthy life span and rejuvenation through brain activation and Epigenetics mechanisms. The insights from aesthetics, including brain science and Epigenetics, can contribute to evidence-based aesthetic medicine and healthy life extension, and more effective anti-aging can be realized. Future research issues include long-term follow-up of aesthetics and anti-aging, clarification of individual differences, and establishment of ethical guidelines. Addressing these issues is expected to clarify the relationship between aesthetics and anti-aging further and provide effective aesthetic medicine.

Global Journal of Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology