Can you delay ageing with a positive attitude?



When do you think 'middle age' starts? What about 'old age'? Unsurprisingly, the answer to these questions will depend on your culture, as well as how old you are when someone asks you. What is perhaps more surprising is that the answer to these questions could have an impact on how quickly your body begins to age.



In 2003, the researchers Hannah Kuper and Sir Michael Marmot carried out a wide-ranging study in which participants were asked the question: when does old age start? They then followed up with the participants six to nine years later and found that those who had thought old age began earlier were more likely to be in poor physical health.



But how could someone's answer to a question about age possibly have an impact on their health? It might be that the question prompts people to think about their physical health, underlying health issues or poor lifestyle, which might then make them feel that old age is coming sooner. People who say that old age sets in earlier, may also be more fatalistic and less likely to visit a doctor or to adopt healthier routines. It's even possible that the stress of having negative thoughts about ageing, contributes to more health problems.



So, this is what happens when we think negatively about ageing, but what happens when we think positively? People who think old age starts later, may be more conscious about their health and fitness and therefore take steps to stay in better shape. They may see their twilight years as an opportunity to learn new things and make new plans. If they believe they are younger, they therefore behave in younger ways, creating a virtuous circle. Whatever the reason, according to data from the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Retirement, people who think positively about ageing live longer on average.



Of course, none of this research means that a positive attitude can magically stop the ageing process – our bodies get older with each passing year, after all. But it seems that if we try to be healthier and if we believe that there are still things we can do in old age, we might live longer and enjoy ourselves more too.



词汇表

wide-ranging [ˌwaɪd ˈreɪndʒɪŋ] 广泛的，范围广的

follow up with 跟进，跟踪调查

poor physical health 糟糕的身体状况，身体状况不佳

prompt [prɒmpt] 促使，推动；提示

underlying [ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ] 潜在的，根本的；基础的

set in （不好的事情）到来，开始

fatalistic [ˌfeɪtəˈlɪstɪk] 宿命论的，相信宿命的

adopt healthy routines [əˈdɒpt ˈhelθi ˈruːtiːnz] 养成健康的生活习惯

stay in shape 保持健康，保持身材

twilight years [ˈtwaɪlaɪt jɪəz] 暮年，晚年

virtuous circle [ˈvɜːtʃuəs ˈsɜːkl] 良性循环

longitudinal study [ˌlɒndʒɪˈtjuːdɪnl] 纵向研究（指在一段时间内持续观察或研究）



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