Mental health linked to longevity and stress resistance as we age

Mental well-being is associated with healthy aging, regardless of socioeconomic status, according to a study published in Nature Human behavior. The findings suggest the importance of mental health in promoting longevity and stress resilience as we age.

The link between mental well-being and physical health outcomes has been the subject of extensive research and debate. Previous observational studies have suggested a link between positive mental health and improved aging processes, including reduced susceptibility to disease and increased longevity.

However, the causal nature of this association has remained unclear, largely due to potential confounders, such as personal socioeconomic status, and the challenge of reverse causality.

Tian-Ge Wang and colleagues analyzed publicly available genetic data on people of European descent to investigate the effect of mental well-being on various aging outcomes. In an analysis of data sets including up to 2.3 million people, they found that individuals with better mental well-being tended to age healthier (characterized by improved resilience, higher self-rated health and longer lifespan).

Through their analysis of eight data sets covering 800,000 to 2.3 million people, Wang and colleagues note that income, education and occupation were all linked to better mental well-being, and that increased income was the most strongly related.

Furthermore, after screening 106 candidate mediators, they report that a decrease in measures of sedentary lifestyle (e.g. TV viewing time) and smoking, as well as, for example, an increase in cheese and fruit intake, can lead to improvements in quality of life. well-being and healthier aging.

The findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health care into public health policy and research on aging. The authors suggest that interventions aimed at improving mental well-being may be a viable strategy to promote healthy aging across the population.

However, the study’s reliance on data from individuals of European descent means that there is a need for further validation of these findings in more diverse ethnic groups.