Don’t Worry, Be Happy, and Maybe You’ll Lower Your Stroke Risk

Here’s another role for the immune system – this time triggered by one’s outlook on life.  A psychology doctoral student at the University of Michigan, Eric Kim, has published the results of a relevant study in the journal Stroke.  It examines the relationship between optimism and the occurrence of stoke.

Previous studies have shown that an optimistic attitude is associated with better cardiovascular health outcomes and improved immune-system functioning.  Moreover, low pessimism scores are linked to a lower stroke risk.  So, to complete the picture, the Michigan researchers analyzed self-reported stroke and psychological data from a large group of people over 50 – the US national Health and Retirement Study.

Data were collected from 6,044 men and women between 2006 and 2008. The Life Orientation Test – Revised was used to score optimism on a 3-18 point scale.  Strokes during the next 2 years were recorded, along with information on chronic illnesses self-rated health, and relevant socio-demographic, behavioral, and biological factors. 

There were 88 cases of stroke.  Higher optimism was associated with a lower risk of stroke.  Each point on the optimism scale was linked with a 9% reduced risk of stroke over the 2-year period.  Importantly, there was no evidence that the effect of optimism was related to other known psychological factors, such as anxiety, hostility, depression, neuroticism, or pessimism.

Of course, this was an observational study, and, as such, cannot be used to ascribe cause-and-effect.  Moreover, the stroke information was based on self-reporting, which is often fraught with inaccuracies.  More direct future studies may clarify the relationship observed in this study, even leading to the practice of enhancing optimistic thinking in suitable subjects.  The glass may be half-full, after all!