{"id":7479,"date":"2023-11-17T07:43:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T12:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/?p=7479"},"modified":"2023-11-17T07:43:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T12:43:42","slug":"becoming-less-ageist-can-reverse-cognitive-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2023\/11\/becoming-less-ageist-can-reverse-cognitive-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming Less Ageist Can Reverse Cognitive Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"

A growing body of fascinating research shows that attitudes towards aging have an actual, measurable, physical effect on how our minds and bodies function. People with more positive feelings about aging\u2014fact- rather than fear-based, that is\u2014walk faster, heal quicker, live longer, and are <\/span>less likely to develop dementia<\/span><\/a> \u2014 <\/span>even if they carry the gene that predisposes them to the disease<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Much of the research has been conducted by Yale\u2019s Becca Levy, the author of <\/span>Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live <\/span><\/i>(2022). Her latest finding, published on April 12 in the <\/span>Journal of the American Medical Association<\/span><\/i><\/a>,<\/span> is remarkable: positive age beliefs don\u2019t just help prevent cognitive decline. <\/span>They can reverse it<\/span><\/i> and improve memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scientists tracked 1,716 individuals<\/span>,<\/span> aged 65 and up, for 12 years, to see if they could predict who would experience MCI <\/span>(Mild Cognitive Impairment), <\/span>as well as who was most likely to recover from it. <\/span><\/p>\n

MCI refers to \u201cmild changes in a number of cognitive functions, including memory and attention,\u201d <\/span>Levy explains<\/a>.<\/span> \u201cIt\u2019s a performance-based measure, and cut-off points have been established and validated.\u201d Participants were tested on how well they performed at various cognitive tasks at different points over the <\/span>12<\/span> years. People with low scores who felt good about aging were more likely to return to the \u201cnormal cognition\u201d range.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does feeling good about aging seem like a reach? If so, it\u2019s because we live in an ageist culture that barrages us with negative messages about growing old\u2014like the myth that cognitive decline is inevitable. Confronting ageism means changing the culture. That\u2019s why Levy is \u201cvery interested in social movements to overcome ageism.\u201d That\u2019s why I do what I do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many aspects of aging aren\u2019t under our control, but we <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> control our attitudes. Unlearning isn\u2019t easy, but it\u2019s free and it\u2019s doable. How about aiming for an <\/span>accurate<\/span><\/i> understanding of the years ahead\u2014an attitude based on facts rather than fears? Based on an understanding of where the myths and stereotypes come from, and what purpose they serve. Based on the abundant evidence that late life is a time of growth and purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to begin?<\/span><\/p>\n