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How Positive Thinking Habits Could Reduce the Risk of Dementia
Research now suggests that it’s not only stress and anxiety that contribute to cognitive decline, but also persistent negative thinking too.
In a recent study published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, scientists and psychologists have discovered a causal link between the formation of harmful proteins accumulating in the brain and both diseases.
Lead researcher, Dr Natalie Marchant at UCL said, “Depression and anxiety in midlife and old age are already known to be a risk factor for dementia. Here, we found that certain thinking patterns implicated in depression and anxiety could be an underlying reason why people with those disorders are more likely to develop dementia.”
The team, together with another in Normandie, France, analysed 360 people aged 55 and over, for a 2 year period. They recorded their responses to questions about their perceptions of negative experiences, paying particular attention to repetitive patterns of thought, such as past worries or fears about the future. In addition to this, researchers measured their levels of depression and anxiety against standard parameters.
All were then assessed for their attention, memory, spatial awareness and language functions. Some of the participants went on to have brain scans, which allowed the team to…