#5 Relax and be happy!
> back to Recommendations

		Given that positive emotions and optimism are shown to increase health and longevity in older adults, one might expect that emotional well-being should have a similarly beneficial influence on cognitive aging. Research suggests that this is the case. Elderly adults who are prone to psychological distress - worrying, feeling nervous, insecure, or inadequate - are more likely to show signs of cognitive decline. One study tracking subjects over time found that adults prone to high levels of distress were twice as likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease five years later and showed a tenfold decrease in episodic memory compared to adults with low levels of distress proneness. Adults showing symptoms of clinical depression exhibit a similar decline in long-term cognitive function and an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's compared to adults with few or no depressive symptoms.
Further Reading: Danner, D. D., Snowdon, D. A., & Wallace, V. F. (2001). Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the nun study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 804-813. Jorm, A. F., Mackinnon, A. J., Christensen, H., Henderson, S., Scott, R., & Korten, A. (1993). Cognitive functioning and neuroticism in an elderly community sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 721-723. Wilson, R. W., et al. (2002). Depressive symptoms, cognitive decline, and risk of AD in older persons. Neurology, 59, 364-370. Wilson, R. W., et al. (2003). Proneness to psychological distress is associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology, 61, 1479-1485.