Optimism about life and a positive view of aging are both very good for your health.

A positive attitude and resilience to overcome adversity are traits linked toexceptional longevity,according to a 2018 study inInternational Psychogeriatrics.Women who have a positive outlook on life areless likely to die from cancer, heart disease and strokethan pessimists, reported the美国流行病学杂志。

Older adults with an upbeat attitude also develop significantlyfewer difficulties with tasks of daily living and mobility problemsthan their less optimistic peers, according to theCanadian Medical Association of Journal.

Heart-healthy attitude

One striking benefit of optimism is in helping to prevent heart disease and improving outcomes after heart procedures. A 2012 Harvard School of Public Health review of 200 research studies found thatoptimistic people were 50% less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. Among patients who hadcoronary artery bypass surgery,根据哈佛大学的研究，乐观主义者需要再次住院的几率是悲观主义者的一半。在血管成形术患者中，悲观主义者心脏病发作或需要重复血管成形术或搭桥手术的可能性是乐观主义者的三倍。

Shining a positive light on aging

A positive attitude about aging can also make a big difference to your health. It’s associated withfaster recovery from injury or disability, a lower risk of chronic disease and reduced risk of memory loss,according to Dalhousie University in Halifax. A 2018 study by the National Institute on Aging found that among older adults who carried a gene variant—called APOE ?4—which increases dementia risk, those with positive beliefs about aging werenearly 50% less likely to develop dementia.

People who view aging in a positive light are alsomore likely to seek help,including preventive medical care. They experience less isolation and loneliness and make the best of life’s negative experiences. These optimists don’t have a Pollyanna attitude that denies harsh realities, but they are grounded and handle stress better than pessimists, says Dalhousie.

Learning optimism

Fortunately, even people who tend to see the glass as half empty rather than half full can develop an optimistic attitude. Many studies by the University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Martin Seligman—considered the father of positive psychology—have shown that people canlearn positive thinking skills through practice.Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, a University of North Carolina psychologist, has demonstrated thatfostering brief moments of positivity each daycan boost physical and emotional health, and help turn negative thinkers into positive ones.