Just in case the generous gifts, delicious food and family gatherings aren’t enough, here’s another reason to have a very Merry Christmas.
Scientists have found that being cheerful and generally satisfied with life can reduce the risk of dementia later in life by up to 70 percent.
Volunteers who reported being highly satisfied with their work, relationships and social lives were significantly less likely to develop the incurable mind-consuming disease.
And older participants who were satisfied with their lot also had a 60 percent lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment — memory and concentration disorders that are thought to be the precursor to full-blown dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Around 900,000 people in Britain suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
This number is expected to rise to 1.5 million by 2040 due to an aging population.
Doctors recommend regular exercise, a healthy diet and limited alcohol intake to protect against the disease.
An active social life, regular hearing tests and stimulating mental tasks – such as puzzles and crosswords – would also help.
Scientists have found that being cheerful and generally satisfied with life can reduce the risk of dementia later in life by up to 70 percent (File Image)
Feeling fed up or depressed is known to cause higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the brain, which has been linked to brain shrinkage, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (File Image)
But the latest study, conducted by a team of experts from Florida State University, suggests that being satisfied with life can also have a powerful protective effect.
They analyzed data on more than 23,000 men and women in the US over an 18-year period.
All volunteers completed regular surveys about their life satisfaction, including their relationships, sex life and mental health.
The results, published in the journal Geroscience, showed that those who were most satisfied with life had a 72 percent lower risk of developing dementia than others who were dissatisfied with their lot.
In some cases, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – was reduced by as much as 90 percent.
Feeling fed up or depressed is known to cause higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the brain, which has been linked to brain shrinkage, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
In a report on the findings, researchers said: ‘Being satisfied with your life is associated with a lower risk of dementia.
‘Improving life satisfaction could promote better cognitive health and protect against the disease.’