Attitude towards ageing impacts health, new study finds!
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It's no secret that society has some pretty negative attitudes towards ageing. Just take a look at the ads for anti-ageing creams or the ‘OK Boomer’ posts that mock the generation as being old-fashioned and resistant to change.
These negative perceptions do not help us improve our attitude toward ageing — perhaps, some of us are still in denial about the fact that we are getting older.
Now it turns out that this negativity could be affecting our health.
According to several new studies, having an unfavourable attitude towards becoming older raises the risk of dementia, heart disease, and even menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia.
For instance, a recent study from Seoul National University shows how persons who felt younger than their actual age exhibited fewer indicators of brain ageing than those who felt their actual age or older.
Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Cologne in Germany demonstrated last year that those who have a positive outlook on ageing are more likely to ‘age well.’
Dr Becca Levy of Yale University in the US, who is credited with being the first to conduct the research connecting attitudes towards ageing with the consequences that it has on our bodies and minds, said that 'positive age beliefs are better for you than low blood pressure or even giving up smoking.'
Researchers claimed that having a positive attitude towards ageing helps you live longer. Credit: Getty Images.
The ageing expert's earlier works have proven that people who have an 'upbeat, optimistic' perception of getting older lived an average of seven and a half years longer than those who have negative attitudes towards the process.
'In study after study I conducted, I found that older people with more positive perceptions of ageing perform better physically and cognitively than those with more negative perceptions of ageing,' she said.
'They are more likely to recover from severe disability, they remember better, they walk faster and they live longer.'
We understand that it is more difficult in this trying time to stay positive, but if you're looking to change your approach to how you view life (and ageing), then we've got good news for you!
Dr Levy offers the following evidence-based tips to help you strengthen your positive attitude towards ageing:
It is difficult to change your mindset overnight, so following these tips will help you have positive views on ageing in the long run. Credit: Getty Images.
1. START AN ‘AGE JOURNAL’ TO DETERMINE PREJUDICE
The expert claims that you can become more aware of the prejudices about ageing when you keep a record of them.
Dr Levy explained: 'For one week, write down every image of ageing, positive or negative that you see.'
'Picking out the negatives helps you become more aware of ageist stereotyping around you, and better able to avoid falling into and perpetuating those common cultural traps.'
The activity can be viewed as an act of 'active noticing,' which aids in the development of a keen awareness of not only overt ageism but also more subtle forms of exclusion and marginalisation.
2. LEARN NEW TRICKS
Refrain from using ageist phrases like 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' and refuse to accept the notion of being 'over the hill'.
The expert remarked: 'If you stumble, accept that you "tripped" or "lost your balance" and are not the sort of person to "have a fall".'
3. ALWAYS THINK THAT YOU'RE GETTING WISER WITH AGE
Aim to be upbeat about ageing at all times. In Japan, older people are treated like rock stars, and a national holiday called 'Respect for the Aged Day is observed each year to commemorate their achievements.
Subliminally exposing people to words like 'wise' has been shown in studies to 'activate positive age stereotypes and trigger improved memory performance, balance, walking speed, and even will to live.'
4. DO NOT BLAME 'SENIOR MOMENTS'
Dr Levy said: 'Don't blame your age. If you lose your car keys, miss an appointment or forget a name, tell yourself you are just having a 'moment of forgetfulness' which could be blamed on having your focus elsewhere — this can happen at any age. It's not 'a senior moment' (in fact, studies show some aspects of memory improve in later life).'
For those of you who might've 'blamed your age' in the past, it is recommended you shift your mindset and think of the root cause of the issue instead of immediately assuming that your age has something to do with it.
Try activities that can help you connect with younger people. Credit: Getty Images.
5. MINGLE WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE
Participate in 'intergenerational' activities that encourage you to interact on an equal footing with younger people.
'It is extremely beneficial to keep searching out ways to connect across the age ranges. It helps the different generations develop positive views about each other,' the expert explained.
6. ALWAYS CALL OUT AGEISM
Be on the lookout for situations where ageism, rather than ageing, may be at play.
7. ALWAYS CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY
Enjoy your birthdays. Don't try to hide your age or take a few years off; doing so only sends out unfavourable messages about getting older.
By accepting your true age, you take control of it and may keep challenging what people assume an individual your age should be able to think and do.
Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you have to slow down and start saying no to all the fun things life has to offer. If you have worries about being 'too old for this, too old for that,' it might be time to reassess your outlook on life. Remember, we only have one life, so we might as well enjoy it while we're still here!
So, there you have it, folks! What are your thoughts on this? Do you think changing your attitude towards ageing helps with feeling better both mentally and physically? Let us know your insights in the comments below!
These negative perceptions do not help us improve our attitude toward ageing — perhaps, some of us are still in denial about the fact that we are getting older.
Now it turns out that this negativity could be affecting our health.
According to several new studies, having an unfavourable attitude towards becoming older raises the risk of dementia, heart disease, and even menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia.
For instance, a recent study from Seoul National University shows how persons who felt younger than their actual age exhibited fewer indicators of brain ageing than those who felt their actual age or older.
Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Cologne in Germany demonstrated last year that those who have a positive outlook on ageing are more likely to ‘age well.’
Dr Becca Levy of Yale University in the US, who is credited with being the first to conduct the research connecting attitudes towards ageing with the consequences that it has on our bodies and minds, said that 'positive age beliefs are better for you than low blood pressure or even giving up smoking.'
Researchers claimed that having a positive attitude towards ageing helps you live longer. Credit: Getty Images.
The ageing expert's earlier works have proven that people who have an 'upbeat, optimistic' perception of getting older lived an average of seven and a half years longer than those who have negative attitudes towards the process.
'In study after study I conducted, I found that older people with more positive perceptions of ageing perform better physically and cognitively than those with more negative perceptions of ageing,' she said.
'They are more likely to recover from severe disability, they remember better, they walk faster and they live longer.'
We understand that it is more difficult in this trying time to stay positive, but if you're looking to change your approach to how you view life (and ageing), then we've got good news for you!
Dr Levy offers the following evidence-based tips to help you strengthen your positive attitude towards ageing:
It is difficult to change your mindset overnight, so following these tips will help you have positive views on ageing in the long run. Credit: Getty Images.
1. START AN ‘AGE JOURNAL’ TO DETERMINE PREJUDICE
The expert claims that you can become more aware of the prejudices about ageing when you keep a record of them.
Dr Levy explained: 'For one week, write down every image of ageing, positive or negative that you see.'
'Picking out the negatives helps you become more aware of ageist stereotyping around you, and better able to avoid falling into and perpetuating those common cultural traps.'
The activity can be viewed as an act of 'active noticing,' which aids in the development of a keen awareness of not only overt ageism but also more subtle forms of exclusion and marginalisation.
2. LEARN NEW TRICKS
Refrain from using ageist phrases like 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' and refuse to accept the notion of being 'over the hill'.
The expert remarked: 'If you stumble, accept that you "tripped" or "lost your balance" and are not the sort of person to "have a fall".'
3. ALWAYS THINK THAT YOU'RE GETTING WISER WITH AGE
Aim to be upbeat about ageing at all times. In Japan, older people are treated like rock stars, and a national holiday called 'Respect for the Aged Day is observed each year to commemorate their achievements.
Subliminally exposing people to words like 'wise' has been shown in studies to 'activate positive age stereotypes and trigger improved memory performance, balance, walking speed, and even will to live.'
4. DO NOT BLAME 'SENIOR MOMENTS'
Dr Levy said: 'Don't blame your age. If you lose your car keys, miss an appointment or forget a name, tell yourself you are just having a 'moment of forgetfulness' which could be blamed on having your focus elsewhere — this can happen at any age. It's not 'a senior moment' (in fact, studies show some aspects of memory improve in later life).'
For those of you who might've 'blamed your age' in the past, it is recommended you shift your mindset and think of the root cause of the issue instead of immediately assuming that your age has something to do with it.
Try activities that can help you connect with younger people. Credit: Getty Images.
5. MINGLE WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE
Participate in 'intergenerational' activities that encourage you to interact on an equal footing with younger people.
'It is extremely beneficial to keep searching out ways to connect across the age ranges. It helps the different generations develop positive views about each other,' the expert explained.
6. ALWAYS CALL OUT AGEISM
Be on the lookout for situations where ageism, rather than ageing, may be at play.
7. ALWAYS CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY
Enjoy your birthdays. Don't try to hide your age or take a few years off; doing so only sends out unfavourable messages about getting older.
By accepting your true age, you take control of it and may keep challenging what people assume an individual your age should be able to think and do.
Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you have to slow down and start saying no to all the fun things life has to offer. If you have worries about being 'too old for this, too old for that,' it might be time to reassess your outlook on life. Remember, we only have one life, so we might as well enjoy it while we're still here!
So, there you have it, folks! What are your thoughts on this? Do you think changing your attitude towards ageing helps with feeling better both mentally and physically? Let us know your insights in the comments below!
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