Cynicism Raises Dementia Risk

Previously, researchers have shown that cynical distrust, anger or hostility associate with heart disease and inflammation.  Anna-Maija Tolppanen, from University of Eastern Finland (Finland), and colleagues analyzed data collected on 1,500 Fins, ages 65 to 79 years, enrolled in the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia Study. Subjects were surveyed for attitudes and outlooks, and assessed for dementia in 1997 and again eight to 10 years later. The researchers measured cynical distrust using an eight-question survey that scores cynicism levels on a scale from zero to 24, with higher numbers representing greater cynicism. At the end of the study period, there were 14 dementia diagnoses in the most cynical group, compared to 13 in the moderately-cynical group and nine in the least-cynical group. That equates to the most cynical group having a risk of developing dementia more than three times that of the least cynical group. The study authors submit that: “. This novel finding suggests that both psychosocial and lifestyle-related risk factors may be modifiable targets for interventions.”