Self-perceived age reflects appraisals of health, physical limitations, and well-being in later life. Older people typically feel younger than their chronologic age, and it is thought that those who feel younger than their actual age have reduced mortality.We sought to confirm this relationship in a large representative population sample, and to understand the role of existing health problems, poor physical function, depression, sociodemographic factors, social isolation, impaired cognitive function, and health behaviors in explaining the association.