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Optimism, lifestyle, and longevity in a racially diverse cohort of women.

Authors :
Koga HK
Trudel-Fitzgerald C
Lee LO
James P
Kroenke C
Garcia L
Shadyab AH
Salmoirago-Blotcher E
Manson JE
Grodstein F
Kubzansky LD
Source :
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society [J Am Geriatr Soc] 2022 Oct; Vol. 70 (10), pp. 2793-2804. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 08.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Background: Research has suggested optimism is associated with healthy aging and exceptional longevity, but most studies were conducted among non-Hispanic White populations. We examined associations of optimism to longevity across racial and ethnic groups and assessed healthy lifestyle as a possible mediating pathway.<br />Methods: Participants from the Women's Health Initiative (N = 159,255) completed a validated measure of optimism and provided other demographic and health data at baseline. We evaluated associations of optimism with increments in lifespan using accelerated failure time models, and with likelihood of exceptional longevity (survival to age ≥90) using Poisson regression models. Causal mediation analysis explored whether lifestyle-related factors mediated optimism-lifespan associations.<br />Results: After covariate adjustment, the highest versus lowest optimism quartile was associated with 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.5, 6.4%) longer lifespan. Within racial and ethnic subgroups, these estimates were 5.1% (95%CI = 4.0, 6.1%) in non-Hispanic White, 7.6% (95%CI = 3.6, 11.7%) in Black, 5.4% (95%CI = -0.1, 11.2%) in Hispanic/Latina, and 1.5% (95% CI = -5.0, 8.5) in Asian women. A high proportion (53%) of the women achieved exceptional longevity. Participants in the highest versus lowest optimism quartile had greater likelihood of achieving exceptional longevity (e.g., full sample risk ratio = 1.1, 95%CI = 1.1, 1.1). Lifestyle mediated 24% of the optimism-lifespan association in the full sample, 25% in non-Hispanic White, 10% in Black, 24% in Hispanic/Latina, and 43% in Asian women.<br />Conclusions: Higher optimism was associated with longer lifespan and a greater likelihood of achieving exceptional longevity overall and across racial and ethnic groups. The contribution of lifestyle to these associations was modest. Optimism may promote health and longevity in diverse racial and ethnic groups. Future research should investigate these associations in less long-lived populations.<br /> (© 2022 The American Geriatrics Society.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1532-5415
Volume :
70
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
35674052
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17897