This is an interesting article. Oh my!
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The ravages of power: Study suggests heads of state age faster while stress shaves life expectancy
After considering the fates of 279 heads of state and 261 runner-ups, researchers concluded former leaders lived for almost three fewer years than expected
In their first meeting last month, U.S. President Barack Obama joked about the toll public office likely would take on Justin Trudeau’s youthful looks.
“I just want to point out that I had no grey hair when I was in your shoes seven years ago and so, if you don’t want to go grey like me, you need to start dying it soon before it’s too late,” Obama said.
“So young and yet so cynical,” the 43-year-old prime minister responded.
But perhaps it was neither cynicism nor vanity: new research suggests that heads of state age faster than normal and that the stress of the job may shave almost three years off their life expectancy.
Doctors analyzed how long presidents and prime ministers in 17 countries — including Britain, Canada, France, Germany and the U.S. — survived after leaving office, compared with the losing candidates. They also observed the number of years that heads of state lived versus what was expected for someone of the same age and gender.
After considering the fates of 279 heads of state and 261 runner-ups, they concluded former leaders lived for almost three fewer years than expected. The study was published online Monday in the medical journal, The British Medical Journal.
“To lose a few years is significant,” said Dr. Anupam Jena of Harvard Medical School, the study’s senior author.
The rest here.
The ravages of power: Study suggests heads of state age faster while stress shaves life expectancy | National Post