Pessimism Raises Dementia Risk, Study Finds
Pessimistic, anxious and depressed people may have a higher risk of dementia. Uh Oh, I`m in big trouble now. :shock: :eek: Those who scored higher for anxiety and pessimism on the test were more likely, as a group, to have developed dementia by 2004, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This did not mean a person who is pessimistic could assume he or she has a higher risk of developing dementia. And there is not any specific way to prevent dementia, although many studies have shown that a healthy diet, exercise, keeping active in other ways, doing puzzles and other activities lower the risk. So, since I get depressed, as long as I do puzzles, and eat salads, I`ll be alright............... o.k. :roll: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=751&e=2&u=/nm/20050414/hl_nm/health_pessimism_dc

Well, as I've mentioned frequently, my mother suffers from dementia. I'm not sure if I'd call her a pessimist though. She just never seemed to think or worry about the future at all. I, however, am a huge pessimist and I worry about everything and try to plan for everything - just in case. I guess I'm a prime case for dementia. :sad: But I do do crossword puzzles! :grin:

Which causes which, though? Perhaps people with dementia have a greater risk of being anxious, pessimistic or depressed as a result of the dementia, or it may be a precursor to the dementia. Feeling anxious, depressed or pessimistic won't in itself lead to mental illness. A lot has to do with how someone responds to those emotions.

My father is definitely a pessimist and the most negative person I've ever known. He's also getting looner by the day...at 74. He would be an example of the connection between pessimism and dementia.