Optimism protects against stroke

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Medscape Today

A recent study shows:

Here are the highlights

• Study data were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, which surveyed more than 22,000 people in the United States every 2 years. Study participants were older than 50 years.
• Study participants were queried regarding psychological status in 2006, and the main outcome of the current study was incident stroke by the end of the study period in 2008. Nonfatal stroke was determined by self-report from participants, and fatal stroke was reported by proxy designees of the study participant. Previous research found excellent validity between the self-reported health data and the medical record in the current cohort.
• Optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test–Revised. This testing resulted in a score of 3 to 18, with higher scores indicating higher levels of optimism.
• The study analysis focused on the effect of optimism on the risk for stroke. This result was adjusted to account for demographic, medical, and other psychological symptoms.
• 6044 adults provided data for the current study. The mean age was 68.5 years, 58% of participants were women, 79% were white, and 12% were black.
• The mean score for optimism was 13.57.
• There were 88 cases of stroke during the 2-year follow-up period.
• Each 1-point increase in the optimism score was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.91 for incident stroke (95% confidence interval, 0.85 - 0.98).
• Anxiety, depression, neuroticism, negative affect, and pessimism also were associated with an increased risk for stroke. However, cynical hostility and pessimism were not.
• These psychological factors did not significantly interfere with the effect of optimism on the risk for stroke. Optimism reduced the risk for stroke beyond any improvement with a positive affect alone.

Optimistic Attitude May Protect Against Stroke Risk in Older Adults

• A previous study of the Women's Health Initiative cohort found that optimism was associated with lower rates of total mortality as well as lower incidence rates of coronary heart disease. Among black women, optimism reduced the risk for mortality from cancer.
• The current study suggests that increasing optimism can have a linear effect in reducing the risk for stroke among older adults, regardless of other psychological symptoms.

Since many of the clients or residents you deal with fall into this category, it is important for you to keep them as happy and optimistic as possible

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