Optimism Linked to Reduced Risk of Stroke AARP Bulletin
Optimism Linked to Reduced Risk of Stroke - AARP Bulletin
Photo by Rolf Bruderer/Blend Images/Corbis A positive outlook on life may lower your risk for stroke. This study, from the University of Michigan, is the first to report a link between optimism and a lower risk of stroke among older men and women. "And the more optimistic they are, the less the risk," says psychologist Nansook Park, coauthor of the study. The researchers analyzed data about optimism collected between 2006 and 2008 from more than 6,000 stroke-free participants in the long-running Health and Retirement Study, a representative sample of U.S. adults over age 50. They were, on average, 69 years old. At the start of the study, the men and women completed a questionnaire about their outlook on life that asked them to rate how strongly they agreed or disagreed with statements such as "In uncertain times, I usually expect the best" and "I hardly ever expect things to go my way."
Two years later the research team used an optimism scale to analyze the association between optimism and stroke, taking into account other factors such as chronic illness, , smoking, alcohol use and . The team found that the most optimistic participants were strikingly less likely to have suffered a stroke than the least optimistic. Optimism, the researchers explain, is the expectation that more good than bad will come your way in the future. They note that optimism may protect people because those with a positive outlook make better choices such as eating well and exercising. "Optimistic people act in healthier ways," says Park. But the effect of optimism may be more than simply looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. It may turn out that being an optimist has a biological influence. "That seems to be where some of the research is heading," says researcher Eric Kim, a study coauthor. "After all, and anxiety have a direct negative impact on the body, so theoretically why wouldn't factors such as optimism have a positive impact?" "I'm not at all surprised that being optimistic is associated with health benefits," says neurologist Larry Goldstein, M.D., director of the Duke University Stroke Center, who was not involved in the study. "We know from many other studies that patients' attitudes can be incredibly powerful." But, Goldstein cautions, the study does not show that optimism causes lower stroke risk, simply that the two are associated. Optimism may be a marker for other behaviors or issues that weren't measured. "Still," he continues, "having a positive attitude certainly can't hurt." The : Journal of the American Heart Association. You may also like:
Nissa Simon writes about health and science in New Haven, Conn. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Optimism Is Linked to a Reduced Risk of Stroke
Positive outlook may have biological benefits
People who have a cheery outlook on life face a lower than their less optimistic peers, according to a new study. Research has already shown that can reduce the chance of developing heart disease and of being readmitted to the hospital after bypass surgery.Photo by Rolf Bruderer/Blend Images/Corbis A positive outlook on life may lower your risk for stroke. This study, from the University of Michigan, is the first to report a link between optimism and a lower risk of stroke among older men and women. "And the more optimistic they are, the less the risk," says psychologist Nansook Park, coauthor of the study. The researchers analyzed data about optimism collected between 2006 and 2008 from more than 6,000 stroke-free participants in the long-running Health and Retirement Study, a representative sample of U.S. adults over age 50. They were, on average, 69 years old. At the start of the study, the men and women completed a questionnaire about their outlook on life that asked them to rate how strongly they agreed or disagreed with statements such as "In uncertain times, I usually expect the best" and "I hardly ever expect things to go my way."
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Two years later the research team used an optimism scale to analyze the association between optimism and stroke, taking into account other factors such as chronic illness, , smoking, alcohol use and . The team found that the most optimistic participants were strikingly less likely to have suffered a stroke than the least optimistic. Optimism, the researchers explain, is the expectation that more good than bad will come your way in the future. They note that optimism may protect people because those with a positive outlook make better choices such as eating well and exercising. "Optimistic people act in healthier ways," says Park. But the effect of optimism may be more than simply looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. It may turn out that being an optimist has a biological influence. "That seems to be where some of the research is heading," says researcher Eric Kim, a study coauthor. "After all, and anxiety have a direct negative impact on the body, so theoretically why wouldn't factors such as optimism have a positive impact?" "I'm not at all surprised that being optimistic is associated with health benefits," says neurologist Larry Goldstein, M.D., director of the Duke University Stroke Center, who was not involved in the study. "We know from many other studies that patients' attitudes can be incredibly powerful." But, Goldstein cautions, the study does not show that optimism causes lower stroke risk, simply that the two are associated. Optimism may be a marker for other behaviors or issues that weren't measured. "Still," he continues, "having a positive attitude certainly can't hurt." The : Journal of the American Heart Association. You may also like:
Nissa Simon writes about health and science in New Haven, Conn. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures