The younger the younger, the faster the disease is!

Text ｜ Feng Weiwei

Picture source: pixabay

"The mentality determines age." This sentence may have scientific correctness. The evidence discovered by scientists shows that it is usually healthier than those who are younger and younger, and their psychological adaptability is stronger.

Is this statement also applied to the elderly with physical disability? The answer is yes.

Researchers at the University of Bayland in Israel have found that you feel youth can increase the chance of successful recovery from disease, even if the elderly. Related studies have recently published in the "Elderly School" magazine.

The study tracked 194 elderly patients between 73 and 84. They received osteoporosis or stroke rehabilitation treatment in several rehabilitation institutions in Israel. Fractures (mainly caused by falling) and stroke are common health events that cause a person to lose their functional independence, which is considered the greatest fear of the elderly.

Patients have been interviewed many times during rehabilitation. They were asked about their subjective age (how young they were). Nursing staff uses functional independence measurement (FIM) test and evaluate patients' functional independence levels when they are admitted to hospital and discharged.

For those patients with osteoporosis and recovery in stroke, it feels more useful. Researchers found that patients with younger (subjective age) when admitted to the hospital showed better functional independence when they were discharged from the hospital about 1 month later. In addition, those who feel younger recovered better because they recovered more optimistic about their functions.

"The influence of the subjective age of the time of admission was confirmed on the independence of the function of discharge." Amit Shrira, a professor at the University of Bayland, led the research with another professor of the department Ehud Bodner.

"However, the opposite influence (the influence of functional independence at the time of admission on the subjective age) has not been confirmed. This supports a conclusion that young age identity is an important psychological construction that helps better recover better . "Shrira added.

Surprisingly, the subjective age is the strongest prediction factors of the rehabilitation result, and even the impact of the actual age of patients at the same time and the occurrence of multiple chronic health status than the patients when entering the hospital. Sanitary health practitioners often refer to the actual age and physical illness when judging the prognosis, and do not pay much attention to subjective age.

"Those people who think they are young can maintain health and functions for longer, as they are showing the current research, they can better recover. If you want to successfully fight aging, people may need to develop a healthy and vibrant lifestyle." Shrira said.

Related thesis information:

https://doi.org/10.1159/000524885

"China Science News" (2022-07-05 No. 2 Edition International)

Edit | Zhao Lu

Capture | Zhihai

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