Some individuals fear aging, while others eagerly anticipate their later years.
A study suggests that those who genuinely believe that 60 is the new 40 or that 70 is the new 50 may be better able to recover their memories.
Researchers discovered that older individuals with moderate cognitive impairment – a common form of memory loss – were 30 percent more likely to regain normal thinking and memory abilities if they held optimistic attitudes towards aging.
A positive outlook on life allowed individuals to recover cognition up to two years earlier than others.
The Yale School of Public Health is the first to link a cultural factor—a good attitude towards ageing—to moderate cognitive impairment recovery.
Professor Becca Levy, the study’s lead author, stated, “Most people believe there is no recovery from mild cognitive impairment. But in reality, half of those who have it recover.”
It is unknown why some patients recover while others do not. Therefore, we examined positive age beliefs to determine if they could provide an answer.
The group recruited 1,716 participants older than 65 years of age.
They were tested for minor cognitive impairment and asked about ageing.
They were asked if they agree with the statement, “The older I get, the more useless I feel.” And if they are as happy as they were when they were younger.
Positive attitudes about ageing made moderate cognitive impairment patients nearly a third more likely to recover.
Positive attitudes about ageing protected subjects with normal cognition from modest cognitive deterioration over 12 years.
Professor Levy stated that the study, which was published in the journal JAMA Network Open, was inspired by a previous finding that elderly individuals who felt positive about their age experienced less cognitive stress and greater confidence in their thinking and memory abilities.
She added, “Because our previous research has shown that age beliefs can be modified. Age-belief interventions could increase the number of individuals who experience cognitive recovery.”
The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that between five and twenty percent of people aged over 65 have mild cognitive impairment.
A person with this condition may forget recent events or ask the same question repeatedly, struggle with planning or problem-solving, be easily distracted, or take longer than usual to find the appropriate word.
The symptoms don’t disrupt daily living, but they increase the risk of dementia.
