Olivia de Havilland, who died in 2020, refused to overcomplicate longevity and managed to live to be 104 years old. Vanity gallery The “Gone with the Wind” star was asked the secret to her good health in April 2016, and she simply replied: “The Three L’s – Love, Laughter and Light.” A consummate optimist, de Havilland did not let her physical problems or mental pressures completely consume her and instead approached them from a place of curiosity to see how she could solve them. Her position is also remarkably backed by science A study revealed that optimists may actually live longer.
According to a study conducted in 2022 and published in the journal Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Which analyzed a diverse group of people, the most optimistic women lived 4.4 years longer than the least optimistic women. In addition, women who adopted the most positive outlook on life were more likely to live into their 90s. The researchers also sought to confirm whether optimistic women live longer because they are more likely to adopt naturally healthy habits. However, after analyzing information on the group’s body mass index, exercise and diet habits, alcohol consumption, and smoking history, the scientists found that only 25% of the relationship between optimism and longevity could be traced to lifestyle habits.
the National Institute on Aging She also points out that she funded a study published in the Journal of Gerontology, which found that optimistic men were less likely to experience negative emotions. More than 50% of this association can be linked to how this group deals with daily stressors by either avoiding them or rethinking their views on them. Not surprisingly, prolonged exposure to stress is associated with a shorter lifespan.
Olivia de Havilland tended to her mind by solving crossword puzzles daily
During Olivia de Havilland’s 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, she said she also solves the New York Times crossword daily to help maintain her cognitive health. Many studies over the years have shown that solving puzzles can go a long way in keeping the mind sharp as we get older. As part of a 2022 study published in Nim Records107 adults with mild cognitive impairment regularly solved crossword puzzles or played other cognitive games for 12 weeks and then participated in booster sessions for an additional 78 weeks.
At the end of the study, 37% of people who solved the crossword had a drop of two points on the Alzheimer’s scale. talking to New York TimesDr. Joe Verghese, chief of neurology at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine, explained that the “mental muscle” gained from solving crossword puzzles and other cognitive games can make it harder for a person to develop dementia. Verghese said solving the puzzles would likely not be enough to stave off brain damage that leads to dementia. However, for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, having a greater degree of cognitive reserve can “mask the effect and delay the onset of symptoms by a few years.”
Of course, it’s not just crossword puzzles that can positively impact cognitive health and Helps slow down aging. Even games like Wordle can boost your brain power in an amazing way.
