If your memory starts to fade, cheer up :A A positive attitude towards aging It may reverse its decline.
Older adults experiencing a common type of memory loss known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may reverse the situation if they “take positive beliefs about aging from their culture.” 30% higher. new research Graduated from Yale School of Public Health.
In fact, positive thinkers tend to regain cognition up to two years earlier than those who are bound by negative beliefs about aging.
In a summary of the study’s findings, Becca Levy, professor of public health and psychology and lead author of the study, said:
“Most people think they will never recover from MCI, but in reality, half of those with MCI do. No. That’s why we looked at positive age beliefs to see if they could help provide an answer.
According to Levy, in her previous study, people who thought more positively about aging reported:
- Lower levels of stress associated with cognitive problems
- have confidence in one’s own cognition
- Cognitive enhancement
But her latest research is the first to show that a culture-wide factor—in this case, a positive attitude toward aging—also helps people recover from memory impairment.
Additionally, positive beliefs about aging in some cultures may help prevent mild cognitive impairment. Researchers found that people living in this type of environment were less likely to develop memory problems over a 12-year period than people living in groups with negative beliefs about aging.
Fortunately, beliefs about aging can be modified, says Levy. In a summary of the researchers’ findings, she said, “Interventions in age beliefs at the individual and societal level may increase the number of people who experience cognitive recovery.”
You can learn more about preserving your memory with 6 Lifestyle Choices to Slow Memory Loss.