Happy people less likely to experience memory decline

People who feel enthusiastic and cheerful - what psychologists call "positive affect" - are less likely to experience memory decline as they age, say researchers. The result, published in the journal Psychological Science, adds to a growing body of research on positive affect's role in healthy aging. "We may wish some memories could last a lifetime, but many physical and emotional factors can negatively impact our ability to retain information throughout life," said study authors from Northwestern University in the US.

For the findings, the research team analysed data from 991 middle-aged and older US adults who participated in a national study conducted at three time periods - between 1995 and 1996, 2004 and 2006, and 2013 and 2014. In each assessment, participants reported on a range of positive emotions they had experienced during the past 30 days.