Middle age is depressing.

According to data collected from more than 200,000 people in 72 countries, happiness follows a U-shaped curve. That means people in their 20s and 60s are happy and people in their 40s are depressed.

The news makes me giddy.

Forget my achy back and minor Parkinson's tremor. Overlook my buddy's second bout with breast cancer. Ignore my cousin's surgical rendezvous for knee replacement.

Being 60-plus is the giggles.

It's midlife that's miserable.

Andrew Oswald of Warwick University in Britain told reporters, "It happens to men and women, to single and married people, to rich and poor, and to those with and without children. Nobody knows why we see this consistency."

Oswald led the study with David Blanchflower of Dartmouth College.

From Austria to Zimbabwe, 40 was the point at which most individuals emerged from their funk. Of course, we're different. The researchers found U.S. men were almost 53 before they snapped out of it. U.S. women shifted back toward happiness around 39.

Writer Susan Estrich said she knows why life turns into the pits at the middle: "Mortality, illness, career disappointments, dreams that aren't coming true. Your parents get sick and die. Your kids grow up and leave home. Your professional life hits the brick wall of reality as you realize you aren't going to be president or CEO or have your own show or that house on the beach. Reality bites."

Estrich said she's encouraged by the academics who found that if you make it to 70 and you're still physically fit, you're likely to be as happy and mentally healthy as a 20-year-old.

"I can't wait. Actually, I can. It's something to look forward to."

Wow. All of a sudden, putting on the years is cool.