Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall health, affecting not only emotional wellbeing but also physical health and longevity. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being and can impact how individuals feel, think, and behave. Mental health can affect an individual’s ability to cope with stress, maintain relationships, make healthy choices, and lead a fulfilling life. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual can realize their potential, cope with normal life stressors, work productively, and contribute to their community.
Longevity refers to an individual’s lifespan, while healthspan refers to the years of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease or disability. While advances in medical technology have contributed to increased lifespan, living longer does not always equate to living healthier. In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding the factors that contribute to healthspan and longevity. While genetics play a role in determining lifespan and healthspan, it’s less than most think, as little as 10% or less. Environmental factors, lifestyle choices and mental health are the predominant factors that impact an individual’s ability to live a long and healthy life. We cover the impacts of genetics and family history on longevity here.
This article explores the relationship between mental health and longevity, with a focus on healthspan. Specifically, this article will address the questions posed, including the practice of relaxation techniques, stress management, optimism, a sense of purpose, engagement in mentally stimulating activities, and the impact of these factors on the hallmarks of aging.
Relaxation Techniques and Stress Management
The practice of relaxation techniques, such as meditation, prayer, or intentional relaxation, has been shown to have numerous health benefits. These techniques can help individuals manage stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve overall mental health. Studies have shown that relaxation techniques can also improve physical health outcomes, such as reducing blood pressure and improving immune function (Stanczykiewicz, 2015).
Stress is a common experience that can impact an individual’s mental and physical health. Chronic stress can contribute to the development of numerous chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression (Cohen, 2019). However, individuals who practice relaxation techniques have been shown to have lower levels of stress and better stress management skills (Stanczykiewicz, 2015).
Optimism and Sense of Purpose
Optimism and a sense of purpose are also essential components of mental health that can impact longevity. Optimism is the belief that positive outcomes are possible and that things will work out in the end. Research has shown that optimism is associated with numerous health benefits, including better immune function, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and lower rates of depression (Boehm, 2018).
Similarly, having a sense of purpose or meaning in life can also impact mental and physical health. Studies have shown that individuals who report a sense of purpose in life have lower rates of depression and anxiety, better sleep quality, and a lower risk of mortality (Ryff, 2016).
Engagement in Mentally Stimulating Activities
Engagement in mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, solving puzzles, or learning new skills, is also associated with better mental health and cognitive function. Studies have shown that individuals who engage in mentally stimulating activities have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia (Wilson, 2013). Similarly, individuals who speak multiple languages have been shown to have better cognitive function and a lower risk of cognitive decline (Bak, 2014).
Engagement in mentally stimulating activities has also been shown to improve mental health outcomes. For example, one study found that engagement in mentally stimulating activities was associated with a lower risk of depression in older adults (Wilson, 2013).
Hallmarks of Aging Impacted by Mental Health Factors
The relationship between mental health and longevity is complex and multifaceted. Mental health factors such as stress management, optimism, sense of purpose, and engagement in mentally stimulating activities can impact the hallmarks of aging, which are the biological processes that contribute to aging and age-related diseases.
Mitochondrial dysfunction, which refers to the decline in the function of mitochondria, the organelles responsible for producing energy in cells, has been linked to numerous age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that stress can contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing oxidative stress and inflammation (Picard, 2018). Therefore, stress management techniques, such as relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices, may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and improve mitochondrial function.
Cellular senescence, which is the process by which cells stop dividing and become dysfunctional, is another hallmark of aging. Chronic stress has been shown to contribute to cellular senescence by increasing inflammation and DNA damage (Epel, 2010). However, engagement in mentally stimulating activities has been shown to improve cellular function and reduce cellular senescence (Wilson, 2013).
Loss of proteostasis, which refers to the decline in the ability of cells to maintain protein homeostasis, is also a hallmark of aging. Studies have shown that chronic stress can contribute to the loss of proteostasis by impairing the functioning of the proteasome, the cellular machinery responsible for degrading damaged or misfolded proteins (Dantuma, 2017). However, engagement in mentally stimulating activities has been shown to improve proteostasis and reduce the risk of age-related diseases (Wilson, 2013).
Mental Health & Longevity
Mental health is an essential component of overall health that can impact both healthspan and lifespan. Relaxation techniques, stress management, optimism, sense of purpose, and engagement in mentally stimulating activities are all factors that can improve mental health and reduce the risk of age-related diseases. These factors can impact the hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and loss of proteostasis, among others. Therefore, promoting mental health and engaging in practices that improve mental health may help individuals live longer, healthier lives.
References
- Bak, T. H., Nissan, J. J., Allerhand, M. M., & Deary, I. J. (2014). Does bilingualism influence cognitive aging?. Annals of neurology, 75(6), 959-963.
- Boehm, J. K., Chen, Y., Koga, H., Mathur, M. B., & Vie, L. L. (2018). Is optimism associated with healthier cardiovascular-related behavior? Meta-analyses of 3 health behaviors. Circulation research, 122(8), 1119-1134.
- Cohen, S. (2007). Psychological stress and disease. JAMA, 321(21), 2166-2167.
- Dantuma, N. P., & Bott, L. C. (2014). The ubiquitin-proteasome system in neurodegenerative diseases: precipitating factor, yet part of the solution. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 7, 70.
- Epel, E. S., Blackburn, E. H., Lin, J., Dhabhar, F. S., Adler, N. E., Morrow, J. D., & Cawthon, R. M. (2010). Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(24), 17345-17350.
- Picard, M., McEwen, B. S., & Epel, E. S. (2018). Mitochondria impact on aging and longevity. Secretome, metabolome and bioenergetics pathways influence cellular senescence and pathogenesis of chronic disease. Aging (Albany NY), 10(12), 2963-2964.
- Wilson, R. S., Boyle, P. A., Yang, J., James, B. D., & Bennett, D. A. (2013). Early life cognitive activity and cognitive impairment in later life. Neurology, 81(4), 314-321.
- Ye, S., Johnson, R. W., & Zhang, W. (2019). Stress, aging, and brain structural integrity across adulthood: a meta-analysis of longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 107, 83-92.
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