Enjoy Your LIfe: Seniors Show Better Physical Function when they Assessed the Past as Positive

A recent study shows that enjoying your life during younger years may be a part of a critical role for healthy aging.

Researchers examined 3,199 men and women from England who were all over the age of 60 and separated into three age groups of 60-69, 70-79 and 80-years-old and above. All of these participants were followed for eight years and assessed based on a positive well-being and physical well-being four-point scale. Such phrases as "I enjoy the things that I do," "I enjoy being in the company of others," "On balance, I look back on my life with a sense of happiness" and "I feel full of energy these days," were used to determine overall happiness. 

Researchers discovered that people in the 60 to 69-year-old group tended to have higher levels of well-being, along with other environmental factors leading to overall happiness-including higher socioeconomic status and education levels. Researchers also found that people who reported lower levels of life enjoyment tended to have an increased risk of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and depression.

"The study shows that older people who are happier and enjoy life more show slower declines in physical function as they age," stated Dr. Andrew Steptoe, University College London. "They are less likely to develop impairments in activities of daily living such as dressing or getting in or out of bed, and their walking speed declines at a slower rate than those who enjoy life less."

Steptoe added that, "Our previous work has shown that older people with greater enjoyment of life are more likely to survive over the next 8 years; what this study shows is that they also keep up better physical function. Our results provide further evidence that enjoyment of life is relevant to the future disability and mobility of older people. Efforts to enhance well-being at older ages may have benefits to society and health care systems."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via The Canadian Medical Association Journal.