An interesting
study discovered that if you believe growing older is a negative thing, you may
be more likely to develop brain changes typically associated with Alzheimer’s
disease. However the research, which
was published in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Psychology and Aging, suggests that if a
person shifts their thinking to more positive feelings on aging; it could
actually help to mitigate the damages of Alzheimer’s.
Becca Levy, an
associate professor of public health and psychology at the Yale School of
Public Health and the study’s leader said, “We believe it is the stress
generated by the negative beliefs about aging that individuals sometimes
internalize from society that can result in pathological brain changes,” She
goes on to explain that while the findings are concerning, “it is encouraging
to realize that these negative beliefs about aging can be
mitigated, and positive beliefs about aging can be reinforced, so that the
adverse impact is not inevitable.”
The study
examined several negative views such as the belief that elderly people are
sickly and have little to contribute.
Positive beliefs included thinking that older people can lead vibrant
lives and be engaged in society. Other
types of negative beliefs included ideas such as elderly people cannot
concentrate well and are absent-minded.
All of the
participants were a part of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging,
which is a long-term study out of Baltimore.
The first part of the study was conducted with 52 men and women who
answered surveys about their opinions on aging.
Participants were also given regular MRI brain scans to check for signs
of Alzheimer’s. Those who answered
questions about aging more negatively were found to have a “greater decline in
the volume of the hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for memory.” This is important as “the hippocampus is one
of the first areas of the brain to shrink in the early stages of Alzheimer’s
disease.”
The other
component of the study was to conduct brain autopsies on 74 participants who
had died. Researchers found that the
brains of those who had held more negative beliefs about aging had more plaques
and tangles in their brain, which is a sign of Alzheimer’s.
The findings
suggest to researchers that the U.S.’s negative view on aging as compared to
other countries such as India, where it is seen more favorably, could
contribute to Alzheimer’s being five times more prevalent in America. Of course positive thinking is no guarantee
for good brain health but it sure makes us feel better.
MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision
to senior living with our mission
statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring
God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We
are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and
invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the best memory care in Colorado
Springs.
Sources:alzinfo.org/articles/research/negative-beliefs-about-aging-could-prime-the-brain-for-alzheimers/
Becca R. Levy, Martin D. Slade, Luigi Ferrucci, et al: “A Culture-Brain Link:
Negative Age Stereotypes Predict Alzheimer’s-Disease Biomarkers.” Psychology
and Aging, 12/2015
No comments:
Post a Comment