Contentment protects memory function and cognition, study says
Being happy – or content – can extend cognitive clarity and memory, according to results of a 16-year study of more than 10,000 seniors.
In the study, researchers tracked adults aged 50 and older, culled from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and who were tested for memory every two years from 2002 to 2018. Memory was tested using a list of 10 words that were read aloud to them, and they were then asked to repeat the words immediately and again after performing other mental exercises. The participants also answered questions measuring four factors of psychological well-being.
The participants were tested nine times in 18 years, and researchers found that individuals with higher levels of psychological well-being performed better on memory tests throughout the study period.
The authors concluded, “these results show that higher psychological wellbeing is associated with better memory function in a population-based sample of people aged 50+, though this study does not provide consistent evidence to suggest that the association operates in the opposite direction. In the context of an ageing population, understanding factors that may protect and maintain healthy cognitive function is critical for enhanced population health and health policy development. This study represents an important step toward understanding the interplay between wellbeing and memory over time.”
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Read the study here. To learn more about IQ200®, click here.
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