Optimism and Health

University psychologists' study of 660 volunteers aged 50 and above was published. It found that thinking positively about ageing adds an average of seven years to a person's life. The team, led by Dr Becca Levy, suggests that having an optimistic attitude can bolster the will to live, though they admit that they cannot explain it fully. B Another American research team, however, says they have identified a physical mechanism behind the phenomenon. Their eight-year study of 670 men aged about 63 found that the optimists had significantly better lung function than men who were more pessimistic. This is the first study to show such a link. The research team at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School believes that attitude somehow strengthens the immune system, and that adopting a more positive outlook may reverse physical decline. 'Preliminary studies on heart patients suggest that by changing a person's outlook, you can improve their mortality risk, Says Dr Rosalind Wright.