Higher optimism is associated with a lower risk of dementia, according to a new study.

In the analysis of data from the Health and Retirement Study, optimism was assessed using the Life Orientation Test-Revised in 9,071 cognitively healthy individuals (average age, 74 years; 57% women) within 2 years of obtaining the participant’s first measure of cognitive function. Dementia was assessed during up to 14 years of follow-up.

Participants with higher optimism had higher education (e.g., at least a college degree for 32% vs 11% in the highest versus lowest optimism quartile). Those in the highest optimism quartile also were less likely to smoke currently (5.6% vs 11%) and more likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical activity more than once a week (28% vs 12%). They also had fewer health conditions and were significantly less likely to have probable depression (3.4% vs 20%).

The protective association of optimism with dementia risk was consistent in both non-Hispanic white and black sub-populations. Specifically, a 1-standard deviation increase in optimism was associated with a 15% lower risk of developing dementia, after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, depression, and major health conditions.

“Identifying optimism as a protective psychosocial factor highlights the potential value of optimism in supporting healthy aging,” the authors wrote. "Together with previous studies, our findings provide support for the possibility that optimism causally contributes to cognitive health and may be considered an asset for brain health."

To download the full study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, click here