Older people who harbour a cynical distrust of others are about three times more likely to develop dementia than individuals who have a more trusting view of humanity, [s]The Independent[/s] reports a study has found. According to Anna-Maija Tolppanen of the [b]University of Eastern Finland[/b] in [b]Kuopio[/b], who led the research, the findings suggest that a person’s psychological makeup could play a role in determining their predisposition to senile dementia, along with factors such as smoking, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. ‘It’s difficult to say what the exact reasons are but we could assume that an attitude of distrust may influence a person’s lifestyle and social networks… We don’t say it’s a causal factor, we just say it increases the risk,’ co-author Alina Solomon of the University of Eastern Finland said.
[link url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cynics-may-be-at-greater-risk-of-developing-dementia-9448535.html]Full report in The Independent[/link]
[link url=http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/05/28/WNL.0000000000000528.short?sid=d98bf778-078a-4b75-bf22-d2c82d3b6eda]Neurology abstract[/link]