The power of positive thinking

Growing old is not for the faint of heart; you need a positive attitude, says the Association of Mature American Citizens.

A new, one-of-a-kind study led by Becca Levy, associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Public Health suggests that the way we think about growing old may have an impact on the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.

“We believe it is the stress generated by the negative beliefs about aging that individuals sometimes internalize from society that can result in pathological brain changes.  Although the findings are concerning, it is encouraging to realize that these negative beliefs about aging can be mitigated and positive beliefs about aging can be reinforced, so that the adverse impact is not inevitable.”