Here’s a happy thought for you: Thinking positively about aging can actually reduce your risk of dementia.
Research from the Yale School of Public Health has found that among people with one of the strongest risk factors for developing dementia, those who felt positively about aging were nearly 50 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who felt negatively.
Talk about the power of positive thinking!
But it doesn’t end there. According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thoughts may be linked to longer life, lower rates of depression, improved cardiovascular health, better coping skills and even a boost in resistance to the common cold.
Over at Harvard University, researchers have found that enthusiasm, hopefulness, engagement and emotional balance are associated with greatly reduced risks of strokes and heart attacks.
And how about this: When faced with health crises, people who actively cultivate positive emotions can both counter depression and boost their immune systems. Keeping a happy heart may lead to keeping a healthy heart — with lower blood pressure, less heart disease, healthier blood sugar levels and better weight control.
Researchers aren’t exactly sure why this phenomenon exist, but studies do show that immune responses can be weakened by negative emotions. Researchers also suspect that positive people are better protected against the inflammatory damage of stress.
What does all of this mean?
For starters, this news is a great reminder that many aspects of your health are under your control: If you can maintain a good attitude, the battle is already half-won. This research is also an encouragement to seek out those things that can help you keep your spirits up — things like social activity, family fun, spiritual support, music and physical exercise.
At Christian Health Care Center, we recognize the value of a positive attitude. That’s one reason we strive daily to live out our mission of providing skilled nursing care with compassion and love, providing support for all aspects of life for the individuals who live here at our Lynden long-term care center.