Disease outcomes
A selection of study findings on disease outcomes in the Seven Countries Study.
Lifestyle, diet and optimism
A healthy diet, especially eating more fruit, vegetables, and whole grain bread was related to a higher level of optimism.
Changes in physical functioning in northern and southern Europe
Disability and need for help increased with advancing age but at the same time decreased over time as the birth years of participants became more recent.
Functional status and disability
The number of self-reported disabilities was positively related to the performance-based limitations score and did not differ between countries.
Optimism and depressive symptoms
The results suggest that optimistic elderly men are at a lower risk to develop depressive symptoms.
Nutrient intake and depressive symptoms
The results suggest that in contrast to the intake of B-vitamins, a high intake of the fish fatty acids EPA-DHA was associated with a low risk of depressive symptoms.
Depressive symptoms, physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease
Physical inactivity may be the intermediate factor in the relation between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease.
Lifestyle factors and depressive symptoms
In elderly men, mild physical activity and moderate alcohol intake may lower the risk of depressive symptoms.
Cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms
Data showed that poor lung function in midlife was associated with steeper increases of depressive symptoms in old age.
Marital status, living situation and cognitive decline
Men who were married or who lived with others were at a lower risk of dementia compared with those living alone.
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.