July 9, 2025
Having a positive outlook on life may protect against middle-aged memory loss, according to a large new analysis. Researchers found that older adults who reported having higher levels of general well-being scored higher on memory tests over the next 16 years.
For the study, researchers tracked 10,760 men and women over 50 who were part of a long-running study of mental health and aging in the U.K. None had Alzheimer’s disease or other serious memory problems at the start of the study period.
The researchers had participants complete a quality-of-life survey every two years over the next 16 years. The survey, called the CASP-19 and used in psychological research, consists of 19 questions scientifically designed to determine a person’s overall sense of emotional well-being. People were asked to respond to a series of questions on a scale of 0 to 3, corresponding to “never, not often, sometimes, or often.”
The survey was designed to measure four key areas that are considered critical for emotional well-being: control, pleasure, autonomy, and self-realization. Positive questions, in which higher scores reflect greater well-being, included:
- I feel free to plan for the future
- I can do the things I want to do
- I look forward to each day
- I feel that my life has meaning
- I enjoy the things that I do
- I enjoy being in the company of others
- On balance, I look back on my life with a sense of happiness
- I feel full of energy these days
- I feel that I can please myself with what I can do
- I choose to do things that I have never done before
- I am satisfied with the way my life has turned out
- I feel that life is full of opportunities
- I feel that the future looks good for me
Negative questions, which are scored in reverse, included:
- My age prevents me from doing the things I would like to
- I feel that what happens to me is out of my control
- I feel left out of things
- Family responsibilities prevent me from doing what I want to do
- My health stops me from doing things I want to
- Shortage of money stops me from doing the things I want to do
Responses were tallied for a total score ranging from 0 to 57 to determine a person’s overall sense of well-being. Researchers also performed regular assessments of memory using a 10-word recall test.
They found that those who scored higher on the well-being assessment were more likely to have better scores on subsequent memory tests. The link between well-being and better memory was also independent of any symptoms of depression, which is a recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The findings were published in the journal Aging and Mental Health.
“This study found that people over 50 who reported they felt happier and more fulfilled in life had a better memory over time,” said Emma Taylor of Alzheimer’s Research UK, which in part funded the study. “Looking after our mental well-being plays an important part in our overall health. And it’s never too late to start taking steps to keep our brains healthy throughout our lives and lessen the devastating impact of dementia.”
The study showed only an association between well-being and memory and cannot prove cause and effect. But the study was large and spanned many years, and the researchers say analysis of the data indicated that the high levels of well-being predated better memory, and not the reverse. “This suggests that the link between well-being and memory is not just because people with poor memory have poor well-being and that, if causality is demonstrated, improving wellbeing could protect against subsequent memory decline,” said study leader Dr. Amber John, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Liverpool.
The authors conclude that “future research could focus on developing and testing interventions aimed at enhancing well-being to potentially delay memory decline. For example, structured mindfulness programs, positive psychology interventions, or social engagement activities could be investigated for their impact on cognitive health.”
By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site. Reviewed by Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University.
Source: Amber John, Roopal Desai, Aphrodite Eshetu, et al: “Wellbeing and memory function: testing bidirectional associations in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).” Aging & Mental Health, June 18, 2025
