To live longer … What to do? Being optimistic would be enough! At least that’s what a recent study published in Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).
American scientists have studied more than 70,000 people to understand what will allow us to have greater longevity and better health. These patients come from two databases and are predominantly female.
Feel less of the effects of long-term stress
The first database offers patient records over a 10-year period, while the second covers a larger period of 30 years. The medical data relate to the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, the general state of health, but to this is added a questionnaire which also relates to the optimism of the patients.
Optimism was measured in particular through a statement to which the patient had to answer yes or no: “En general, I expect more good things than bad to happen to me.“
Results ? The most optimistic among them have gained between 11% and 15% more life expectancy compared to the less optimistic. The study also underlines that optimism is the ingredient that would make it possible to pass 85 years. The reasons ? Researchers assume that optimists are less affected by their emotions and the effects of stress.
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