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   Looking at Mother by Mary Huber
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There is an old saying that if a bridegroom wants to know how his bride will age, then he must look at the bride's mother. The idea behind this saying is that mothers and daughters age in a similar way. So, by studying his future mother-in-law, a bridegroom can, in some way, see into the future. Although friends and family often use this saying to tease prospective marriage partners, science now confirms that this is not just another old wives' tale. If you really want to know what your wife will look like when she is older, scientists in California in the

USA say, you only need to take a look at her mother!

The new research from California shows that the faces of mothers and daughters wrinkle and sag in exactly the same way as they age. Facial scans of mothers and daughters prove that the skin and soft tissues, especially around the eyes, show the same pattern of wrinkles and lines. While previous studies were largely observational and subjective, these fresh studies prove scientifically that a mother's face gives an accurate indication of how her daughter's face will age.

To measure and study the true effects of ageing, doctors examined ten sets of similar looking mother and daughter pairs with ages ranging from 15 to 90. Using state-of-the-art facial imaging and computer modelling, researchers discovered a consistent pattern of sagging and volume loss around the lower eyelid area and tear ducts. As the women aged, the soft, sensitive skin tissue around the eyes lost elasticity and plumpness.

Scientists already know that bags under the eyes are caused by the skin losing elasticity and by muscles slackening with age. At the same time, fat in the skin under the eyes begins to expand to give the appearance of bagginess. Scientists now realise that there are also genetic patterns passed down from one generation of women to another. Indeed, scientists think that the similarities in the way mothers and daughters age start to emerge when a daughter reaches her mid-thirties.

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Glossary

Bridegroom (n)
a man who is getting married.

Bride (n)
a woman who is getting married.

Wrinkle (v)
to have small lines appearing on the face or body as it ages.

Subjective (adj)
an opinion based on emotions rather than facts.
  Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 February 2010 11:35 )