We show that the factor \sim 2 discrepancy between spectroscopic and photometric age determinations of the Galactic bulge main-sequence turnoff can be naturally explained by positing an elevated helium enrichment for the bulge relative to that assumed by standard isochrones .
Helium-enhancement relative to standard isochrones is confirmed at the 2.3 \sigma level .
We obtain an upper bound on the helium enrichment for the metal-rich ( [ Fe/H ] \approx + 0.30 ) stars of { \Delta } Y \approx + 0.11 relative to canonical expectations , given the requirement that the spectroscopic and photometric ages be consistent and the limiting condition of instantaneous star formation .
We discuss phenomenological evidence that the bulge may have had a chemical evolution that is distinct from the solar neighborhood in this manner , and we make several testable predictions .
Should this emerging picture of the bulge as helium-enhanced hold , it will require the development of new isochrones , new model atmospheres , and modified analysis and cosmological interpretation of the integrated light of other bulges and elliptical galaxies .