ergo-log.com

Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "

21.06.2014

Cynical over 65s more likely to develop dementia

If you've reached the age that you can call yourself a senior citizen, the likelihood of your developing dementia is greater, the more negative your thoughts about other people are. Finnish neurologists came to this conclusion after following nearly seven hundred people over the age of 65 for eight years.

Study
The researchers measured the participants' cynical distrust using the Cynical Distrust Scale, which is part of the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale.

The Cynical Distrust Scale consists of eight statements with which you can "completely disagree" [0 points], "somewhat disagree" [1 point], "somewhat agree" [2 points] or "completely agree" [3 points].

How cynical are you?
So the minimum score you can get on the Cynical Distrust Scale is 0, the maximum is 23. If you want to work out how cynical you are, here are the statements.

1. I think most people would lie to get ahead.

2. Most people are honest chiefly through fear of being caught.

3. Most people will use somewhat unfair reasons to gain profit or an advantage rather than lose it.

4. I commonly wonder what hidden reasons another person may have for doing something nice to me.

5. No one cares much what happens to you.

6. It is safer to trust nobody.

7. Most people make friends because friends are likely to be useful to them.

8. Most people inwardly dislike putting themselves out to help other people.

Results
Cynicism had little influence on the mortality risk, but increased dementia risk.

Conclusion
"Confirming the association between cynical distrust and incident dementia necessitates replication studies in larger populations with longer follow-up times", the researchers write.

Source:
Neurology. 2014 Jun 17;82(24):2205-12.

More:
Diet rich in vitamin B3 protects against Alzheimer's 30.01.2020
Strawberries protect against Alzheimer's disease 27.01.2020
Edible mushrooms halve the risk of early-stage dementia 27.10.2019
Phosphatidylcholine, a choline analog in eggs and meat, protects against dementia 03.10.2019

Archives:
Psychology of Longevity
Psychology
Dementia

Loneliness leads to first stages of dementia In apparently healthy over 65s, loneliness can have a potentially disastrous effect on the brain. Neurologists at the University of Harvard published about this in JAMA Psychiatry.	Frequent contact with friends and family protects against dementia There is more plaque in the brains of lonely people than in people with many social contacts, we wrote in 2016. If you know this, the scope of this study of psychiatrists at University College London is not at all so strange.	Ketogenic diet may help prevent dementia If you start a diet with extremely few carbohydrates at a young age, you may protect your brain against Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Animal study.