USA: Studies show aging makes you happier

Arizona Living > Woman's Day PHOENIX, Arizona (The Arizona Republic), August 19, 2008: When it comes to happiness, time is on your side, experts say. "People generally do get happier as they age," says Laura Carstensen, director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. "People expect to become less happy as they grow older, yet our studies show that the frequency that one feels sad or angry declines, and when negative emotions do occur, they don't last as long." So what's the reason for our bliss boost? The brain, for one thing. Over time the amygdala, the part of our brains that processes emotions, physically changes how it reacts to negative stimuli, explains Dr. Gene Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University Medical Center. Our active lifestyle also ups our happiness. "Not only are older Americans exceptionally adaptive to social loss, they may also be more proactive than younger adults in establishing ties to the community," says Benjamin Cornwell, assistant professor of sociology at Cornell University. If you want to ensure a spot on the joy bandwagon in the years ahead, be sure to do four key things now. • Stay engaged. In his 20s, Mick Jagger famously said that he didn't want to be singing Satisfaction in his 40s. Now he's in his 60s, still rocking and strutting. Staying mentally and physically active ensures that you don't end up in a boring, restrictive rut. • Keep your friends close. "Having tight social networks leads to healthful aging," explains Karen Reivich, co-director of the University of Pennsylvania Resiliency Project at the Positive Psychology Center. That means nurturing various relationships, not just the ones with your family. • Forget the stereotypes. That crotchety old cat lady may very well exist, but that doesn't mean you'll end up like her. In her research, Becca Levy, associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale University, has found that older folks who are exposed to positive age stereotypes perform better physically and mentally than those exposed to negative ones. • Talk to yourself. Just some self-reflection to ask, "What can I do today that will make me feel happy?" Then do it. Copyright © 2008, azcentral.com