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Mental health

Mental health is a major contributor to quality of life in the elderly. Dementia due to cognitive decline and depression are among the most important health problems in aging societies.

We investigated the relation of diet, lifestyle and traditional CVD risk factors of depression, cognitive decline and dementia in the Seven Countries Study and its affiliated studies. Some associations are common knowledge, such as the association between a low level of optimism and depression. Others are less well established, such as the relationship between living alone and cognitive decline.

Explore the associations between personal characteristics and mental health by reading these articles:

Physical activity, APOE4 genotype and cognitive decline

Physical activity reduces the risk of stroke and may subsequently diminish the risk of cognitive decline, but changing the level of activity is more influential than maintaining it.

Physical activity, APOE4 genotype and cognitive decline

Cardiovascular risk factors and disability

There is some evidence that classic cardiovascular risk factors measured in middle-age are related to disability and mental well-being in later life.

Cardiovascular risk factors and disability

Optimism and depressive symptoms

The results suggest that optimistic elderly men are at a lower risk to develop depressive symptoms.

Optimism and depressive symptoms

Fish, omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive decline

An analysis of the 1990 fish consumption data and the data on cognitive function collected showed that fish consumers had significantly less cognitive decline than non-consumers.

Fish, omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive decline

Genotypical risk factors, stroke and cognitive decline

The Zutphen Elderly Study showed that the risk of cognitive decline over three years was 187% higher among the carriers of certain variety of gene called the APO e4 isoform.

Genotypical risk factors, stroke and cognitive decline

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