Utah People's Post

The Latest News from the Beehive State

Saturday, January 16, 2021
Log in
  • National News
    • Female Caseworker Killed & Doctor Shot in Philadelphia
  • State News
    • Car Chase Leads to Drug Arrest
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
    • How to Prepare For Ticks Season
    • Magical Weight Loss Bean Scam
  • Sports
  • Business
You are here: Home / Health / Having Negative Opinions of Old People May Lead To Dementia

Having Negative Opinions of Old People May Lead To Dementia

Posted by

"think positive on aging"

Think positive

Karma strikes again, as a new study suggests that having negative opinions of old people may lead to dementia later on in life. This means that if you’re either afraid of aging and dismiss the elderly by default, it may come back to haunt you. All those negative thoughts might be causing you stress, which in turn affects the brain.

Researchers reviewed data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, launched in 1958. It’s the longest study in the United States on the subject of aging, done across several decades. They analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 52 healthy patients and 74 deceased patients, all of which had completed surveys on their attitude on age over decades worth of time.

Each subject had an average of seven MRI scans and had gone through an exhaustive questionnaire on their opinion of older people throughout their lives. The questions included whether they believed the elderly were unhappier, slower, or much less sharp than the rest of the population.

Then, they observed the size of their hippocampus, the area in the brain associated with memory. In Alzheimer’s or dementia patients, that part of the brain tends to shrink, which sets the onset of memory loss. Researchers found that those with negative opinions on the elderly featured a much faster shrinkage of the hippocampus. That means that they were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other type of dementia.

Over the course of 10 years, all participants featured some type of shrinkage. However, those with more positive attitudes presented it at a much slower pace, and less loss in volume. In fact, those with negative opinions experienced the same amount of shrinkage of the hippocampus in just 3 years as the optimists showed in 9 years. So, it could mean that a poor attitude toward aging brings on the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia three times faster.

The study has earned more validity due to the fact that it was shown on both living and deceased patients. Post-mortem observations showed that those with negative opinions on aging had higher levels of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Both are key trademarks of Alzheimer’s. The observations were also found to be the same even after discounting factors such as age, sex, or other issues that may affect brain health.

Researchers were not able to pinpoint the cause.

However, they believed stress was one of the influencing factors. Thinking that older people are unhappier, with financial and even sexual problems, and knowing that you’re inevitably heading in that direction would certainly cause some stress. Which may open you to risk of disease. A good thing about an attitude toward something though is that it can be changed.

Image source: thetimes.co.uk

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Filed Under: Health

mm

About Emma Carter

Emma is a Europe based writer who never imagined that one day she would be covering news from all around the world. She holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistic studies and her love for words drove her to journalism. Emma is dedicated to social issues and believes that writing about justice and equality is a good start in leaving her footprint behind.

Woman working out at the gym

Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

By

Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

By

United Airlines airplane

Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston

By

Breakfast sandwich

Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

By

Poppy flower

UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply

By

U.S.-Canada border

French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

By

Plus size model

Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

By

Giant manta ray

Unique Manta Ray Nursery Spotted off Texas Coast

By

The rainbow flag

WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

By

456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

By

Kenyan girls dancing

Kenyans Facing Poor Nutrition as Supermarket Shopping Is on the Rise

By

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Staff
  • Terms and Conditions

Recent Posts

  • Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)
  • Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston
  • Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat
  • UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply
  • French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

Related Articles

  • Woman working out at the gym

    Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

  • Breakfast sandwich

    Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

  • The rainbow flag

    WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

  • 456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

  • Young woman affected by depression

    If You Have PTSD You Were Likely Abused as a Child

  • Obese dog on a leash

    Obese Dogs Can Help Us Better Understand How Obesity Works

  • Our Brains Are Craving Combinations of Fats and Carbs (Study)

  • Hungry bird with beck open

    Scientists Explain Why We Get ‘Hangry’

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • National News
  • Nature
  • Provo
  • Salt Lake News
  • Science
  • Sports
  • State News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • West Jordan
  • West Valley City
  • World

Copyright © 2021 utahpeoplespost.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Site Map · Contact

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.