The good life begins at 50, say scientists

Despite increased risk of death and disease, it seemed that people in their fifties worry less, ignore the negatives and accentuate the positives, according to scientists at Stony Brook University, New York.

The researchers said that when people reach the landmark age, their stress, anger and worry fade gradually and feelings of happiness start to surge, the Telegraph reported. Dr Arthur Stone, one of the authors of the study, said their findings were "striking".

"You would think as chronic illness threatens life would get worse but that is not the case because people don't focus on the threats," he said. "They focus on the good things in life like family and friends."

Stress and anger reduced after people reached their early 20s with worry declining after the age of fifty, they said variables such as having young children, being unemployed, or being single did not affect age-related patterns of well being, they found.

The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that levels of stress, worry and anger all dropped significantly in the fifties and levels of happiness and enjoyment increased.

The only feeling that remained constant was that of sadness. But, overall feelings of well being increased in the fifties all the way up to the eighties, it was discovered. According to the researchers, older people also have an increased ability to self-regulate their emotions and view their situations positively and recall fewer negative memories than younger adults.