Does Becoming President Really Kill You Faster?
- Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:17pm by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
CHICAGO (The Blaze/AP) — It is a widely held belief that U.S. presidents have an extremely stressful job. Within months of entering office, people began to call attention to President Barack Obama’s rapidly graying hair. Even First Lady Michelle has made mention of the salt and peppering of her husband’s hair, saying earlier this year that it was “proof” he was doing well and “earning every last one of those gray hairs.”
(Image via LA Times)
As if graying wasn’t enough, many people think that the stress level associated with the presidency is linked to a shorter lifespan. But a new study is showing the complete opposite, finding many U.S. commanders in chief have actually lived longer than their peers.
Using life expectancy data for men the same age as presidents on their inauguration days, the study found that 23 of 34 presidents who died of natural causes lived several years longer than expected.
The four former presidents still alive have already lived longer than predicted, or likely will because they’re in good health, the study said.
“The graying of hair and wrinkling of the skin seen in presidents while they’re in office are normal elements of human aging,” said study author S. Jay Olshansky, a researcher on aging at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Stress can speed up those two outward signs of aging, and it’s possible that job stress has made some presidents appear to age quickly. But the study shows that doesn’t mean being doomed to an early grave.
“We don’t actually know if they get more gray hair or more wrinkles” than other men their age. “But even if they did, we don’t die of gray hair and wrinkles,” Olshansky said.
Given that most of the 43 men who have served as president have been college-educated, wealthy and had access to the best doctors, their long lives are actually not that surprising, he said.
His study is published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association.
The idea that presidents age quickly comes from casual observation and more studious assessments. Promoters of that idea include Dr. Michael Roizen, chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute and co-founder of RealAge, Inc. The “real age” concept suggests that age depends partly on lifestyle factors including stress and diet that either keep people young or prematurely age them. Roizen theorizes that presidents age twice as fast while in office.
Roizen said Olshansky‘s study doesn’t disprove that idea and only shows “that in order to run for president you tend to be incredibly healthy.”
Olshansky stands by his findings.
The 34 presidents who died of natural causes were aged 73 on average at death, a few months less than Olshansky‘s’ life expectancy estimate. But under the accelerated aging theory, their average age of death would have been 68, he said.
The 23 presidents who lived longer than Olshansky’s projections died at an average age of 78, 11 years later than under the accelerated aging theory.
The four presidents who were assassinated — Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy — were aged 52 on average at death.
The first eight presidents were almost 80 years old on average when they died, at a time when the average life expectancy for men was less than age 35.
“It’s absolutely extraordinary that they lived this long,” Olshansky said.
That includes John Adams, who died at 90; James Madison, 85; and Thomas Jefferson, 83.
Ditto the last eight presidents who died — seven lived longer than expected; Lyndon Johnson was the only one who didn’t. He died of a heart attack at age 64, 10 years less than his projected life expectancy and five years less than his life expectancy with accelerated aging, Olshansky said.
Among the more recent presidents, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford both died at 93. Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush are both 87.
Olshansky has even done some projecting about 50-year-old President Barack Obama. Given his age when inaugurated, Obama’s life expectancy would be 79, but Olshansky estimates that Obama will live to at least 82 because of his education, wealth and access to top-notch health care.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 686 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 536 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 446 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 374 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 332 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 290 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 299 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 193 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 290 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (61)
RightUnite
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:39pmOne can hope in this case, right???
Report Post »crolic9
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:15pmKnow the government know the crash was going to happen and they were responsible for just put me over the edge..
Report Post »Enough of the OWS movements get off your privileged mind set… it’s time to add to society rather than being a leach….
RossPoldark
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:47pmBeing President coupled with being the biggest A***hole on the face of this planet is fatal, and hopefully in the short run.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:47pmMy EXACT thoughts.
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:39pmProbably not, but we could make an exception just this once…..hee! hee! Could you throw in the leader of the Senate and former speaker of the house as well ???
Report Post »HuckleberryFriend
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:06pm“Access to top notch health care”? Only if he is exempt from his own Health Care plan.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:14pmI like this part best:
“Does that include John Adams, who died at 90; James Madison, 85; and Thomas Jefferson, 83?
Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford both died at 93. Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush are both 87.”
I believe, with the best healthcare, modern presidents will live much longer than the founders!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:05pmIn obama’s case..it is not being president…it is the pressure of finding new vacation spots.
Report Post »4X4in
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:03pmI sure hope so!
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:54pmUnfortunately, in the present case not fast enough.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:30pmI want to know what Obama has done to age?? hmm must be the partying, the golf, the jet setting.. cause he hasn’t done a damn thing but destroy.. God help us!
Report Post »broken1
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:35pmABBYGIRL1994
The dope has aged putting up with the first wookie. If you had to wake up to that mug every morning you’d age age too.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:28pm“Stress can speed up those two outward signs of aging” So, what’s Obamas excuse? The only thing he stresses about is getting the 8:30 tee time.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:14pmobamas exuse? addiction??? turns hair grey real fast. And in the case of black skin turns ashen, bummers got both.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:24pmObviously, not fast enough since Reagan.
Report Post »Bakko Bomma
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:22pmDoes having gray highlights put in your hair make you look more credible?
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:17pmSeems to me, they all live to be pretty old. Look at Carter.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:17pm“…kill you faster?” Interesting re-write of the title of the AP article. Readers of theblaze sure love ‘em some red meat.
Report Post »robh
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:13pmIt‘s temting but I won’t say it. It’s against the law, and my principles, and I don’t want SS visiting me any time soon!
Report Post »robh
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:14pmA-retentive spelling correction: “tempting”!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:04pmYou wishful thinkers…Obama isnt president, he is KING!
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:08pmIt’s the drug use, and packing Holders hole that has Obama looking older.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:56pmI guess, “Not fast enough” would be an incorrect response, right?
Report Post »koibaby
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:51pmPlaying golf can be stressful.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:43pmdont tease
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:39pmThe real question is … is THIS president killing US faster ?
Report Post »momrules
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:38pmStress won’t kill the current occupier of the Oval Office. This man is as happy as a clam. He parties, he plays,he vacations and eats quite well. He is also accomplishing everything he set out to do. He is destroying this country with Obama care, the encouragement of racial and class warfare, the importation of more Muslims and the increase in Islamic power throughout the world.
No, this is a happy, well fed, well funded man. He’ll live a long, long time.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:52pmExactly how close to the shore do Great Whites troll in Hawaii? Inquiring minds want to know.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:04pm@CHIPS1……….I don’t want to laugh at that, I don’t want to but I am, I am.
Report Post »Continental Patriot
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:37pmIf being President of this nation kills you faster, Obama can expect to live a long, long time due to his primary focus on golf and taxpayer funded vacations instead of doing any actual presidential work.
Not that we want a socialist to attempt to perform any work at all when they hold that high of a position anyway…
Report Post »HKS
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:34pmIt would appear and has been reported that it’s the fear of the skeletons in the closet coming out at any moment that does the damage, and does this POTUS have a full house there. A lot of his are already out and he fears that someone will finally say duh, what was I thinkiing?
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:34pmWith Obama it can’t happen quick enough!
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:33pm“Does Becoming President Really Kill You Faster?”
Report Post »No, that’s just wishful thinking.
Vechorik
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:15pmNow THAT is funny!
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:32pmOne can only HOPE
Report Post »Trefcorp
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:32pmWow that is a lot of baby powder Obama‘s campaign managers rubbed into President Barry’s hair :)
Report Post »chips1
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:30pmThey use alot of baby powder in order to prevent diaper rash.
Report Post »