u/nothingaccidental

I recently ended a 4-year relationship with a woman who was 21 years younger than me. Since then, I've been reflecting on why most of my relationships and mutual attraction have been with younger women rather than women my own age.
I'm curious whether others have noticed similar patterns. Do you think it's more about personality, lifestyle, appearance, confidence, shared interests, or something else? For those in age-gap relationships, what do you think initially made you or your partner open to dating someone significantly older or younger?
I'm interested in hearing different perspectives and experiences.