New research suggests that a positive outlook could support healthy brain aging. Experts share tips on how to foster a little more optimism in your own life.
A positive attitude may go a long way toward reducing the likelihood of developing dementia, according to new research.
The 14-year study, which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found a clear link between higher levels of optimism and a lower risk of cognitive decline.
Experts say the findings are especially exciting because people can train themselves to be more optimistic. Here’s what the research found, plus why this association might exist.
» For additional information, please book a free consultation with a provider online or call Rewind by Formula Health in Lexington, Kentucky, at (859) 800-4771.
Noticeable Optimism May Protect the Brain
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 9,000 people who participated in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of older American adults.
They gathered information on participants’ general life outlooks with a common 10-item questionnaire used to measure optimism versus pessimism. This was given at the start of the study, then again two years later. The researchers also tracked who went on to receive a dementia diagnosis during 14 years of follow-up.
Lead study author Säde Stenlund, MD, PhD, a research associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that her team evaluated participants based on how they compared with someone with an average level of optimism.
After crunching the numbers, the researchers discovered that 1-standard deviation increase in optimism was linked with a 15 percent lower risk of developing dementia. The researchers also conducted sensitivity analyses — modeling that looks at different variables — that suggested the association between optimism and lowered dementia risk was strong, and that it was not due to other factors like poor baseline mental health.
Low mood can be an early symptom of dementia, but the researchers found that the link between optimism and dementia was consistent, even when participants who developed dementia within the first two years were excluded from the study.
“These findings suggest a potential value of optimism in supporting healthy aging, which could be considered in future research on dementia prevention initiatives,” the researchers concluded.
» For additional information, please book a free consultation with a provider online or call Rewind by Formula Health in Lexington, Kentucky, at (859) 800-4771.
How Attitude May Be Shaping Dementia Risk
More optimistic people tend to engage in healthier behaviors, such as being more physically active, which is a known protective factor against dementia. But behavioral factors don’t seem to explain the majority of this relationship. Optimistic people are often better at managing stress. When you are optimistic, you are calmer. This will lower your blood pressure and decrease inflammation in your brain. Optimism also decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the brain, and elevated cortisol is another risk factor for memory loss.
Finally, optimistic people are more likely to have strong social connections.
» For additional information, please book a free consultation with a provider online or call Rewind by Formula Health in Lexington, Kentucky, at (859) 800-4771.
Optimism Is Teachable and Within Your Reach
Optimism can be cultivated. “The encouraging part is that optimism isn’t fixed — it can be trained,” Davide Cappon, PhD, a psychologist and director of neuropsychology at Tufts Medical Center, says. “There are randomized trials showing that optimism-focused interventions can lead to meaningful, sustained changes in biological markers, including those tied to cardiovascular health.”
These interventions usually involve strategies such as mentally reframing challenges and practicing future-oriented thinking — imagining realistic, positive outcomes rather than being pessimistic about what will happen, Cappon says. “On a day-to-day level, it can be as simple as keeping a gratitude habit, pausing to reset perspective in stressful moments, and staying socially connected,” he says.
To practice gratitude, write down three things to be grateful for each day, which can help people foster a more positive view of the future.
» For additional information, please book a free consultation with a provider online or call Rewind by Formula Health in Lexington, Kentucky, at (859) 800-4771.
