Positive thinking makes the mind and body of the elderly healthier with age
A new study by Yale University in the US has challenged the common belief that people's physical and mental abilities steadily decline as they age.
According to a new study by Yale University in the US, nearly half of the elderly over the age of 65 have seen significant improvements in their physical or mental abilities over time.
The research, published in the scientific journal 'Geriatrics', was conducted on more than 11,000 American elderly people for 12 years.
The study has shown that positive thinking about aging can help bring about significant improvements in the walking speed and mental performance of the elderly.
July 20, Kathmandu. Challenging the common belief that people's physical and mental abilities steadily decline as they age, Yale University in the US has made the findings of a new study public.
According to this long-term research, nearly half of the elderly over the age of 65 have seen significant improvements in their physical, mental, or both abilities over time.
The study, published in the scientific journal Geriatrics, followed more than 11,000 older Americans for 12 years. Their thinking and memory skills and walking speed were measured during the research. According to the results, 45 percent of the participants showed improvement in at least one area. Of these, 32 percent showed improvement in mental ability and 28 percent in physical ability.
“Many people view aging as an inevitable decline in physical and mental abilities,” said Becca R. Levy, a professor at the Yale School of Public Health and lead researcher. “But our study shows that even in old age, improvements in abilities are not rare, but rather a normal process.”
The study found that a person’s own perception of the aging process plays a big role. Older people who had a positive attitude towards aging showed greater improvements in walking speed and mental performance.
The negative perceptions that society creates through the media and advertising have a negative biological impact on people's health, while positive thinking makes the body more energetic, says Professor Levy. "Our findings show that even in old age, there is still an internal capacity for improvement, and that it can be improved by changing our thinking," Levy said.
This improvement was not limited to those who had recovered from illness. Older people who were initially completely healthy also showed further improvement over time. The study suggests that the ongoing decline that comes with aging can be prevented, and the researchers recommend that investment in positive environments and rehabilitation programs for the elderly, along with therapeutic services, be increased.
