A Positive Outlook Associated with Better Memory

Are you generally a positive person? If yes, a new research study suggests you may have better memory retention in your later years. While the study is observational only in nature, it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that your affect can affect your health. A positive outlook appears to be associated with better memory retention in our later years.

“I have drunken deep of joy,
And I will taste no other wine tonight.”
― Percy Bysshe Shelley

Over our lifetimes, we form new neurons in our brain, but our brain size peaks in our early 20s. After that, we experience not only a drop in brain volume but as well in blood flow to the brain. Not all memory declines at the same rate. Today we look at several memory types, including semantic memory, procedural memory, episodic memory, and long-term memory.

After that, we’ll look at a new study showing that your outlook on life is associated with memory retention in our later years. The researchers evaluated nearly 1,000 subjects at three discrete time points. They evaluated immediate and delayed recall. At each assessment, the subjects reported their feelings over the prior thirty days.

As noted above, a positive outlook is associated with better memory retention. Researchers discovered that in general, memory declines with age. But for those with a positive affect, there appears to be less memory loss.

Regular exercise and getting intellectual stimulation may help slow decline.

View at Medium.com

On another note (in the realm of sexuality), you may want to read this:

Sexuality and Cancer: What You Need to Know

References

https://www.apa.org/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797620953883?journalCode=pssa