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By Alan Mozes
NEW YORK, Mar 22 (Reuters Health) - Don't worry, be happy! A new report suggests that being optimistic and hopeful may reduce the risk of stroke in the elderly.
"There's a mind-body connection, and I think that higher levels of positive affect (mood) may somehow help the immune system function better," said lead study author Dr. Glenn V. Ostir of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Ostir and his colleagues looked at how depression and emotional well-being influenced the risk of stroke in nearly 2,500 adults aged 65 and older who lived in North Carolina.
Overall, Ostir and his team found that the risk of stroke increased among patients--particularly among men--who were more likely to answer "yes" to questions such as "I felt lonely" and "I had crying spells."
On the other hand, the researchers noted that the more positive outlook an individual had, the lower their risk of stroke. For example, for each "yes" to questions such as "I was happy" and "I enjoyed life," there a 41% drop in risk among men and an 18% drop in risk among women.
The investigators found that a person's outlook on life influenced stroke risk whether they were black or white, and after taking into account other factors that can influence risk, such as obesity, chronic illness, smoking and alcohol use, according to the report in the March 23rd issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.
Ostir told Reuters Health that the clear connection between a positive frame of mind and stroke risk was somewhat unexpected. "I was surprised by the strength of the association," he said.
Ostir suggested that physicians can acknowledge this relationship by exploring it when providing care to elderly patients. "In high-risk populations, it's important to take into account a person's mental attitude and mental well-being," he said.
"Exercising and proper nutrition, of course, are very important. But it's also important to look at mental health, and to not only focus on depressive symptoms but also focus on how happy a person is in life," Ostir added.
Among American elderly, stroke is the third most common cause of death and the most common cause of long-term disability.
SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine March 23, 2001.
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