Dementia risk could be tied to your mindset and outlook on life, study suggests

New research has identified a possible link between a person’s outlook on life and their risk ofdeveloping dementia.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, examined whether having higher levels of optimism could reduce the chances of cognitive decline over time.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 9,000 adults who werecognitively healthyat the start of the study.Participants were followed for up to 14 years, with more than 3,000 developing dementia during that period.

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Those who reported higher levels of optimism on a questionnaire had about a 15% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with less optimism, even after adjusting for factors such as age, education, depression and major health conditions, according to a study press release.

The findings were consistent across demographic groups and remained largely unchanged after accounting for health behaviors andmental health status.

New research has identified a possible link between a person’s outlook on life and their risk of developing dementia.(iStock)

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The results suggest that emotional and psychological factors may play a role inbrain healthas people age, the researchers noted.

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“Our personal emotional and social resources — like how hopeful and positive we feel about the future — may be related to keeping our brains healthy,” said lead study author Säde Stenlund, a social and behavioral sciences researcher at the Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, in the release.

cardiovascular diseaseand may be more likely to live longer.

Study limitations

The researchers noted that the study was observational, meaning it only shows an association and cannot prove that optimism directly reduces the risk of dementia.

Other factors not measured in the study may have influenced the results, and changes in mood might be an early sign of dementia rather than a cause of it, they added.

Researchers said staying hopeful and positive may help protect brain health with age.(iStock)

Still, the findings point to a potential area for future research.

“Since optimism may be increased through relatively simple, low-intensity programs, it is helpful to understand how it is related tohealth in aging,” Stenlund said.

lifestyle habitsmay help reduce risk.

Experts recommend addressing conditions such as hearing loss, limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking, as these factors have been linked to cognitive decline.(Ourmindsmatter)

New York neurologist Dr.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

“It’s about putting the odds in your favor that you’ll be less likely to develop one of these conditions, or at least delay the onset of symptoms,” he said.

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Experts also recommend addressing conditions such ashearing loss, limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking, as these factors have been linked to cognitive decline.