Can optimism help with memory loss?

A 2023 study at the Yale School of Public Health found that older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a common type of memory loss, were 30% more likely to regain normal cognition if they had taken in positive beliefs about aging from their culture, compared to those who had taken in negative beliefs.  The study was done by Becca Levy, PhD, an associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Health, and colleague Martin Slade, PhD, and published in April 2023.

It has been widely assumed that individuals who develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will not recover; however, nearly half of older persons with MCI regain normal cognition.  The reason for this improvement is not well understood.  The Levy/Slade study is the first, to their knowledge, to consider whether a culture-based factor, positive age beliefs, contributes to MCI recovery.

According to  Dr. Levy and Dr. Slade, in previous experimental studies with older persons, positive age beliefs reduced stress caused by cognitive challenges, increased self-confidence about cognition, and improved cognitive performance.  Their hypothesis for this study was that people with positive age beliefs would be likely to recover from MCI more quickly than people with negative age beliefs.

Researchers examined data on 1716 participants with an average mean age of 77.8 years with either normal cognitive function or mild cognitive impairment.   They were selected from the Health and Retirement Study, a national longitudinal survey.  All of the participants had periodic memory assessments and completed surveys about their views on aging based on the results from the Attitude on Aging survey.  One statement from the survey was “The older I get the more useless I feel,” and participants were asked to express their agreement or disagreement with it.  They were divided into two groups: those who had expressed positive views on aging and those with negative views.

The primary outcome of the study was the participants’ cognitive recovery, which was tested through four overlapping word lists.  Data was collected every two years from 2008-2020.

The study supported the hypothesis of Drs. Levy and Slade.  They found that participants with MCI at the baseline were significantly more likely to experience cognitive recovery if they had positive age beliefs at baseline.  The positive age-belief group had a 30.2% greater likelihood of recovery than the negative age-belief group, with a recovery advantage of about 2 years. Their  recovery advantage persisted regardless of baseline MCI severity.

Among the participants with normal cognition or MCI at baseline, the positive age belief group had lower MCI prevalence compared with those with negative age beliefs.  They were also significantly less likely to develop MCI over the following 12 years of follow up.

The study authors conclude that this study suggests the importance of considering the role of   culture, expressed here through age beliefs, in MCI development and reversal.  Previous studies have indicated that cognition is predicted by stress levels and health behaviors, both of which can be improved by positive age beliefs.

Dr. Levy said, “Our previous research has demonstrated that age beliefs can be modified: therefore, age-belief interventions at the individual and societal levels could increase the number of people who experience cognitive recovery.  In other words, it is not too late for a person to alter their way of thinking about aging – a positive mindset can be learned at any age.

This study is very new and other researchers may not agree with the findings of Dr. Levy and Dr.Slade.  However, working to develop a more optimistic attitude toward aging and life can begin at any age and will no doubt benefit us whether we do or do not experience cognitive impairment.

The study can be reviewed online at Role of Positive Age Beliefs in Recovery From Mild Cognitive Impairment Among Older Persons.