Happiness, 5

 Gratitude has been found to increase one's happiness. Cultivating gratitude can help you to break free from the rat race of ever pursuing more. By being grateful for what you have, you will gradually start to be more content with your life. You will notice that gratefulness can slowly help you to be happier in your life. Every day be thankful for something or someone. Thank someone for something they did for you. Text someone and tell them you appreciate that they are in your life. Train yourself to be thankful for little things . . . the more the better. Gratitude is the antidote for fear, anxiety, and worry. Fear and gratitude cannot simultaneously exist in the brain. Your life is basically a sum of all the little choices you make. The better your choices, the better opportunity to be happy and to lead a happy life. More tomorrow.

Happiness, 4

A growing body of research suggests that happiness can improve your physical health. Feelings of positively and contentment seem to benefit cardiovascular health, the immune system, inflammation levels, and blood pressure, among other things. Happiness has even been linked to a longer lifespan—providing more years to continue striving for fulfillment. Researchers found that different types of happiness have surprising different effects on the human genome. People who have high levels of what is called eudaimonic well-being—the kind of happiness that comes from having a deep sense of purpose—showed very favorable gene-expression profiles in their immune cells. They had low levels of inflammatory gene expression and strong expression of antiviral and antibody genes. People who have relatively high levels of what’s called hedonic well-being (as in hedonist)—the kind of happiness that comes from self-gratification—show just the opposite. Their genes had adverse profiles involving high inflammation and low antiviral and antibody expression. More tomorrow.

Happiness, 3

Opposites tend to attract in relationships. Often you will see a very upbeat person partnered with a whinner, who is always seeing the glass half empty (although it is impossible to have a glass half empty in real life—it the glass is empty, it is empty!) In short, you are responsible for your own happiness. The realization that you are responsible for your own happiness can greatly empower you. It can help you to stop making your happiness dependent on external influences – such as money, tangible assets, people, and how your career progresses. Remember, within 2-3 years you become a reflection of the people you hang out with. Select a very small group of “happy” people and spend time with them. More than simply a positive mood, happiness is a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life—that is, living a life with a sense of meaning and deep satisfaction. More to come.

Happiness, 2

Studies have shown that individuals do not only have a happiness “set-point” around which they oscillate, but that they are also capable of resetting this set-point. One particular study even highlighted that the long-term happiness levels of both lottery winners and accident victims were not at all influenced by these events. The scientists noted that the happiness levels of participants from both groups quickly returned to their regular state, despite the initial spikes in happiness or sadness. Studies have demonstrated that listening to positive music may be an effective way to improve happiness, particularly when it is combined with an intention to become happier. More tomorrow.

Happiness

I’ve always considered myself a fairly happy person but this COVID-19 hype and isolation is beginning to get to me. I miss my friends. I miss going to the mall and out to eat. I’m even missing people I don’t particularly like very much.

You are not alone. As this COVID-19 drags on, many are finding it difficult to stay upbeat. It is important to do so, however. Since the 1990s, a whole branch of psychology—positive psychology—has been dedicated to pinning down what happiness is and propagating it. Basically, happiness is a choice. Happiness is a choice. It’s as simple as that. People who are rich often are not happy; many who are poor often are happy. It is a state of mind. You can feel sorry for yourself and for the situations life has thrown at you. But you are also capable of not allowing these events to influence your positive outlook on life. If you choose to be happy, nothing will ever be able to reduce your level of long-term happiness. More tomorrow.

Dementia Starts Early, 2

Studies are showing that subtle symptoms of dementia may be starting at least a dozen years before any clinical diagnosis of even mild impairment can be made. Subtle symptoms can include, for example: a person’s gait begins to slow down dramatically. Other research has shown that, compared with healthy controls, patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment have a higher blink rate and lower heart rate variability. Circadian rhythm disruptions also seem to occur in the very early stages of cognitive decline. But alone, by themselves, these small changes are unreliable markers of neurodegenerative disease. Several companies are doing studies with smart phones to see if data could be collected that could help with earlier detection. Time will tell. Prevention is the name of the game, however. The healthier a person’s lifestyle and the regular inclusion of challenging mental exercise on a daily basis, the better.

Dementia Starts Early

Is there anything new on the horizon to help diagnose dementia in time to maybe do something to slow its progression?

That is an excellent question and one that others are asking, as well. Estimates are that in America one in ten individuals over the age of 65 are living with dementia. At the projected rate of increase, soon close to six million Americans will be living with this debilitating disease. Touted as the sixth leading cause of death in the US, there are still no drug treatments available to improve cognitive function in people who already have dementia. There are studies to support the idea that subtle changes can precede dementia. If these could be picked up earlier and more reliably, some progress might be able to be made. More tomorrow.