New Delhi, May 16 (NationPress) Are you experiencing feelings of loneliness or perceiving yourself as older than your actual age at 40? A recent study suggests that such negative views on aging may serve as early indicators of frailty, even in your 40s.

Typically linked to advanced age, frailty is a recognized medical condition characterized by diminished strength, energy, and the capacity to recuperate from illnesses.

Pre-frailty represents a reversible transitional phase that precedes frailty; however, experts indicate that it is poorly defined and necessitates further exploration.

The findings, published in the journal BMC Public Health, reveal that frailty can manifest much earlier through subtle psychological and social signals.

Lead author Tom Brennan from Flinders University's Caring Futures Institute in Australia stated, "Many people think frailty is a phenomenon that occurs much later in life. However, our study shows that psychological and behavioral warning signs can surface decades earlier, in individuals in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. For instance, expressing the sentiment of feeling older than your chronological age may seem trivial, but it can actually signal that something is amiss," he explained.

In this study, researchers examined data from 321 Australian adults aged 40 and above; 60% were identified as pre-frail, 35% as non-frail, and 5% as frail.

The analysis indicated that both pre-frail and frail individuals were more inclined to report feelings of loneliness and negative perceptions about aging when compared to their non-frail counterparts.

"Loneliness was one of the most significant predictors of pre-frailty in our sample, underscoring that social isolation is a vital factor affecting overall resilience, even within a relatively healthy and mobile demographic," Brennan remarked.

Another significant discovery was that pre-frail individuals often reported feeling older than their chronological age, even when physical health indicators fell within expected limits.

"Feeling older than you actually are can serve as a crucial psychological signal," Brennan noted. "It's essential to promote positive attitudes towards aging, as this can greatly influence how individuals adapt to later phases of life."

Brennan emphasized that the study points to a critical intervention opportunity that could aid in preventing the advancement of frailty in later years.