A study by the EngageMinds Hub center reveals that one in two Italians suffers from Dorian Gray syndrome, the fear of losing physical attractiveness with age. 47% of respondents also fear becoming useless to others. The perception of aging focuses on the loss of competence, image, and social role, rather than on relationships. According to the data, old age begins at 71, a figure that aligns with the increase in life expectancy.
Apps and wearables against the passage of time 🕒
Technology offers tools to track and manage this process. Health apps monitor physical activity, sleep, and nutrition, while wearables like smartwatches record biometric data in real time. Cognitive training platforms promise to keep the mind active. However, these devices focus on superficial metrics, such as wrinkles or physical performance, without addressing the underlying anxiety about the loss of social utility reflected in the study.
The phone's anti-aging filter fools no one 📱
The most popular solution among those affected is to apply a beauty filter to the selfie of the moment. But when the front camera returns a wrinkle-free face and the bathroom mirror shows you reality, the conflict is inevitable. Technology keeps offering digital patches for a problem that, in the end, is all in the mind. And incidentally, the 71 years that separate us from being officially considered old.