The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?

  • 16 Replies
  • 3113 Views
  • 2 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline tkadm30 (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2439
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 34 times
  • Breaking the box...
    • View Profile
    • IsotopeResearch
Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« on: 21/08/2017 13:36:09 »
Is it possible to reverse aging by adopting a positive mental attitude in life? Personally, i don't feel like I'm 35 years old, and still enjoy to play video games. Furthermore, I believe aging is strongly influenced by our psychological attitude, and that aging is mostly a mental phenomenon. Do peoples who adopt a childish lifestyle can reverse aging ?

What do you think?
Logged
Not all who wander are lost...
 



Online Kryptid

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 5534
  • Activity:
    71.5%
  • Thanked: 234 times
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #1 on: 21/08/2017 18:45:39 »
I do imagine that chronic stress could aggravate the effects of aging, but you're not going to actually reverse aging just by adopting a positive attitude.
Logged
 

Offline jeffreyH

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6807
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 174 times
  • The graviton sucks
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #2 on: 21/08/2017 19:43:56 »
No.
Logged
Even the most obstinately ignorant cannot avoid learning when in an environment that educates.
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7942
  • Activity:
    6.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #3 on: 21/08/2017 22:11:01 »
I agree with @Kryptid insomuch that people with a lot of control over their lives and jobs tend to age better, statistically, than people lower down the pecking order. So psychology and mental fortitude as well as education and attainment do play a role. But that aside, the idea that you can think yourself younger is a delusion.
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9007
  • Activity:
    73.5%
  • Thanked: 884 times
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #4 on: 21/08/2017 22:56:02 »
You may think of yourself as just a teenager with lots of practice - but our brains play tricks on us. All your experiences are subtly melded into our worldview, and our memories and attitudes are continuously being rewritten without us being aware of the process.

For a reality check, just try repeating some of the physical feats you achieved as a teenager - you will probably find that your biology can't keep up with your physics.

...just don't do yourself any injuries trying!

I, for one, would not like to become a teenager again! Too much angst!
Logged
 
The following users thanked this post: tkadm30



Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 10990
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 634 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #5 on: 21/08/2017 23:12:29 »
It works both ways. I have been 25 since I was 16. Like all old rockers, the older we get, the better we were, though I'll admit to having played my last game of rugby on my 60th birthday. Computer games are only played by senile masochists.
« Last Edit: 21/08/2017 23:17:41 by alancalverd »
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline tkadm30 (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2439
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 34 times
  • Breaking the box...
    • View Profile
    • IsotopeResearch
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #6 on: 21/08/2017 23:47:20 »
Quote from: alancalverd on 21/08/2017 23:12:29
Computer games are only played by senile masochists.

Thats quite rude. Did you know that playing video games is a easy way to promote neuroplasticity?
Logged
Not all who wander are lost...
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 10990
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 634 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #7 on: 22/08/2017 07:34:18 »
Repeating the same action in the hope of getting a different result was Einstein's definition of insanity. You can't beat a computer because it has no sense of loss or desire to win: the best you can do is to effectively decode someone else's algorithm. Computer simulations, like barbells and scrum machines,  are useful for training but anything that doesn't map to reality is completely pointless.

I would be interested to see the results of neuroplasticity measurements on identical twins who had been differentially exposed to computer games. Learning several languages takes less time and produces a useful, if not measurable, result.
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline tkadm30 (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2439
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 34 times
  • Breaking the box...
    • View Profile
    • IsotopeResearch
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #8 on: 22/08/2017 10:01:06 »
Quote from: chris on 21/08/2017 22:11:01
But that aside, the idea that you can think yourself younger is a delusion.

It's more than an idea; It's a state of mind. Your mental attitude in life can influence many physiological processes related to aging.
The trick is to not bother with aging and concentrate on things having a positive influence on your mental status.
Logged
Not all who wander are lost...
 



Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9007
  • Activity:
    73.5%
  • Thanked: 884 times
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #9 on: 22/08/2017 22:16:21 »
Quote from: alancalverd
Learning several languages takes less time and produces a useful, if not measurable, result.
I'm currently trying to learn some basic Greek and Italian.
I hope to measure it by the number of times I can say something useful, instead of being dumbstruck in another country.
Any impact on the speed of aging would be a welcome side-effect.
Logged
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 10990
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 634 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #10 on: 22/08/2017 23:16:26 »
It's the key to a balanced lifestyle. Reading a menu or ordering a beer with confidence in a foreign country conveys a great feeling of maturity, and getting your face slapped reminds you that you are still young enough to get into trouble and enjoy it.
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7942
  • Activity:
    6.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #11 on: 23/08/2017 08:22:32 »
Quote from: evan_au on 22/08/2017 22:16:21
I'm currently trying to learn some basic Greek and Italian.

Retsina, Asti, Moussaka, Spaghetti... that should do it.
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9007
  • Activity:
    73.5%
  • Thanked: 884 times
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #12 on: 23/08/2017 22:51:37 »
Quote from: evan_au
I'm currently trying to learn some basic Greek...
My initial knowledge of Greek came from studying maths at high school, followed by a bit of koine Greek.

I notice that modern Greek reverses some of the sounds compared to "maths Greek".

In maths Greek, θ is called "theta" and represents the sound "th" in English. δ is called "delta" and represents the sound "d" in English.

But these sounds seem to be reversed in modern Greek. So the number "2" we would call "duo" in maths Greek, but it sounds like "theo" in modern Greek (to my ears). There are other examples like "deca" for "10" comes out as "theca", and other sounds that diverge from maths Greek.

However, Chemistry comes in handy with chemical names like pentane (5 carbons), octane (8 carbons) and allotrope (other shapes), while Maths is useful for words like icosohedron (20 sides) and tesseract (4 dimensions).
 
It's all Greek to me...
Logged
 



Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7942
  • Activity:
    6.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #13 on: 24/08/2017 09:26:40 »
Quote from: evan_au on 23/08/2017 22:51:37
It's all Greek to me...

You beat me to it!
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7942
  • Activity:
    6.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #14 on: 24/08/2017 09:30:28 »
Meanwhile, back to the OP;

Here are some references to stories we have covered recently on ageing:

  • https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/short/can-brain-training-slow-progression-alzheimers
  • https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/question-week/can-we-exercise-our-brain-improve-difficult-mental-tasks
  • https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-neuroscience/remembering-live-ripe-old-age
  • https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/science-features/how-exercise-benefits-brain
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9007
  • Activity:
    73.5%
  • Thanked: 884 times
    • View Profile
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #15 on: 27/08/2017 06:43:48 »
PS: During the week I mentioned that I was trying to learn some basic words in Greek, and someone said "Isn't there an app for that?".

Yesterday I downloaded a translation app to my phone.
  • If you have an internet connection, it can do speech-to-speech translation
  • or translate a photo of text, using resources "in the cloud".
  • If you don't have an internet connection, it can do text-to-text translation, with you and another person typing on your device in their own language.
I downloaded translation modules for the 3 language zones I will be visiting; I had only been trying to learn vocabulary for two of them.

No wonder people don't try to think any more!
Logged
 

Offline tkadm30 (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2439
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 34 times
  • Breaking the box...
    • View Profile
    • IsotopeResearch
Re: Can your mental attitude reverse the effects of aging?
« Reply #16 on: 27/08/2017 13:23:30 »
Quote from: evan_au on 27/08/2017 06:43:48
No wonder people don't try to think any more!

The idea is that younger people may preserve their mental and cognitive abilities by living freely and having a positive attitude.
In contrast, older people have excessive obligations which seem to exponentially increase the aging process. 
Logged
Not all who wander are lost...
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags: aging  / psychology 
 

Similar topics (5)

Can matter in a vacuum create dark energy and dark matter effects?

Started by GoscienceBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 1
Views: 8620
Last post 10/05/2011 23:37:24
by yor_on
Question about High Altitude to Low Altitude physical effects. (Research)

Started by SkylordRicBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 1
Views: 17979
Last post 08/02/2008 02:02:04
by another_someone
Does chronic excessive water drinking cause accumulative effects on blood pres.?

Started by DrCuriosityBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 3
Views: 4759
Last post 09/11/2013 02:27:25
by CliffordK
Are COVID-19 patients showing high-altitude effects? (or EPO doping impacts?)

Started by evan_auBoard COVID-19

Replies: 1
Views: 450
Last post 07/05/2020 00:28:24
by alancalverd
What weird and cool effects occur when two gigantic mirrors face each other?

Started by SeanyBoard General Science

Replies: 12
Views: 9341
Last post 13/04/2007 21:49:22
by Seany
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.199 seconds with 76 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.