A new study suggests that age is a state of mind, and if you think of yourself as old and frail, your perception may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But seniors who have a more positive attitude about their age stay more socially active and enjoy a greater quality of life, despite having equal levels of physical weakness, the study found.
Lead researcher Krystal Warmoth and colleagues at University of Exeter Medical School interviewed 29 older adults living in England about their views on aging and frailty. Findings also showed that perceiving oneself as frail tended to lead to ceasing activities such as exercise that could reduce the likelihood of frailty. According to an announcement from the researchers, one respondent summed it up by saying, "If people think that they are old and frail, they will act like they're old and frail."
E-Paper
