Being more optimistic can lower dementia risk by 15%

Having a sunnier outlook on life doesn’t just improve mood – it can lead to a healthier life for years to come.

Living more optimistically cut the risk of developing dementia in people’s later years by at least 15 percent, researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said Wednesday.

The findings could have a major impact on the future of dementia prevention in the U.S. Roughly 7.2 million are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a figure that is projected to nearly double by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

But adjusting one’s attitude could help turn the tide – or at least become a larger part of clinical efforts to fight dementia, the researchers believe. Optimism lowers the stress hormone cortisol and levels of harmful inflammation in the brain, which have both been linked to dementia.

“Identifying optimism as a protective psychosocial factor highlights the potential value of optimism in supporting healthy aging,” they wrote in their related study.

14 years of data

The study included more than 9,000 healthy adults who were aged 50 and older, measuring their brain health and assessing their optimism from 2006-2020.

A third of the participants developed dementia, but those who lived most optimistically were least at risk, the researchers found.

How optimistic people were was determined using a six-point scale, measuring the least optimistic to most optimistic. Each higher point on the scale was tied to a 15 percent lower risk of dementia, regardless of age, sex, race and health factors.

Participants’ risk of dementia was determined using an algorithm, which was trained on data from cognitive and physical testing and demographic differences between participants.

The researchers did not suggest a reason for their observations, but pointed out that people with higher optimism were more educated, less likely to smoke, more likely to engage in physical activity and had fewer health conditions.

“Although optimism is a complex construct, and it is not clear exactly how it might translate in terms of future dementia prevention initiatives, this is an area which merits future research,” the researchers wrote. “This is important given the rising prevalence of dementia and the current lack of effective treatments.”

The findings build on years of research showing the powerful benefits of optimism and boosting brain health in delaying dementia.

One 2022 study from over 150,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 showed optimism was a quality linked to a longer lifespan and a 2016 study showed older adults who felt more optimistic about their future were less likely to experience decreases in memory, problem solving and judgment.

The power of purpose

Experts have identified several ways that people can be more optimistic – more hopeful and positive – throughout their lives.

For one, acknowledging just how tough life is can help.

The most optimistic people acknowledge that life is full of challenges and that they can work through it, Cindy Woolverton, an assistant professor at UTHealth Houston, said in a statement. “There was a sense of self-efficacy that they have the ability to navigate whatever comes their way.”

But ensuring that people live with a purpose – whether that’s caring for others or working toward a goal – is also crucial for older adults, she noted. Adults over the age at 65 are at the highest risk for dementia.

“It’s important to keep older adults engaged and feel that sense of purpose,” Woolverton said. “Do things that matter to them, follow up with their providers, address health concerns, and engage in healthy behaviors, such as exercise.”