1 00:00:15,476 --> 00:00:15,916 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:21,996 --> 00:00:24,876 Speaker 2: This year, Finland has yet again been crowned the planet's 3 00:00:24,916 --> 00:00:28,516 Speaker 2: happiest nation by the World Happiness Report. Country rankings like 4 00:00:28,556 --> 00:00:30,836 Speaker 2: these are usually the only thing people hear about when 5 00:00:30,836 --> 00:00:33,076 Speaker 2: it comes to this annual report, but here on the 6 00:00:33,116 --> 00:00:35,236 Speaker 2: Happiness Lab we like to go a bit deeper into 7 00:00:35,236 --> 00:00:37,836 Speaker 2: the well being science, and so in the next episodes 8 00:00:37,916 --> 00:00:40,316 Speaker 2: we'll be diving into what the report says about other 9 00:00:40,396 --> 00:00:41,596 Speaker 2: pressing wellbeing issues. 10 00:00:42,076 --> 00:00:43,116 Speaker 1: Last time, we spoke to. 11 00:00:43,156 --> 00:00:45,876 Speaker 2: John Helliwell, who's been working on the World Happiness Report 12 00:00:45,956 --> 00:00:49,436 Speaker 2: since its inception. He explained that this year's report focused 13 00:00:49,516 --> 00:00:52,796 Speaker 2: not just on overall differences and happiness across nations, but 14 00:00:52,876 --> 00:00:56,436 Speaker 2: also on how happiness differs across age within a single country. 15 00:00:56,796 --> 00:01:01,316 Speaker 3: So we split the population into those born before nineteen 16 00:01:01,436 --> 00:01:06,476 Speaker 3: sixty five boomers and their predecessors, those born after nineteen 17 00:01:06,556 --> 00:01:10,596 Speaker 3: eighty more than the millennials and Gen SAID, and then 18 00:01:10,636 --> 00:01:12,556 Speaker 3: the intervening group of Gen X. 19 00:01:13,316 --> 00:01:15,796 Speaker 2: In Eastern Europe, the young are markedly more happy than 20 00:01:15,836 --> 00:01:18,636 Speaker 2: their parents and grandparents, but in the US it's Gen 21 00:01:18,756 --> 00:01:21,316 Speaker 2: Z who's having a rough time. I wanted to look 22 00:01:21,356 --> 00:01:24,316 Speaker 2: more deeply at these demographic quirks around the world, so 23 00:01:24,396 --> 00:01:27,036 Speaker 2: I tagged in the lead author of a different groundbreaking 24 00:01:27,116 --> 00:01:29,236 Speaker 2: chapter in this year's World Happiness Report. 25 00:01:29,636 --> 00:01:32,236 Speaker 4: My name is Emily Wilroth. I am an assistant professor 26 00:01:32,276 --> 00:01:35,236 Speaker 4: at Washington University in Saint Louis and the Department of 27 00:01:35,316 --> 00:01:37,116 Speaker 4: Psychological and Brain Sciences. 28 00:01:37,516 --> 00:01:41,156 Speaker 2: Emily studies well being across the lifespan, and specifically what 29 00:01:41,236 --> 00:01:44,476 Speaker 2: it takes to maintain happiness as we age. Her chapter 30 00:01:44,556 --> 00:01:47,156 Speaker 2: looks for the first time at the intersection of long 31 00:01:47,156 --> 00:01:51,476 Speaker 2: life happiness and dementia. As life expectancy extends around the world, 32 00:01:51,836 --> 00:01:53,716 Speaker 2: more and more of us will experience the sort of 33 00:01:53,756 --> 00:01:58,116 Speaker 2: cognitive decline that often accompanies old age. Emily's research has 34 00:01:58,156 --> 00:02:01,036 Speaker 2: found that happier practices can not only delay the effects 35 00:02:01,076 --> 00:02:03,876 Speaker 2: of dementia, but can also let us live better lives 36 00:02:03,956 --> 00:02:07,676 Speaker 2: as the disease develops. It's a fascinating and timely topic, 37 00:02:08,116 --> 00:02:11,196 Speaker 2: and honestly that I hadn't really considered very much before 38 00:02:11,196 --> 00:02:14,276 Speaker 2: I read Emily's chapter, So I started by asking her 39 00:02:14,516 --> 00:02:17,396 Speaker 2: why do we so rarely talk about the happiness challenges 40 00:02:17,436 --> 00:02:17,956 Speaker 2: of aging. 41 00:02:19,116 --> 00:02:21,156 Speaker 4: I think, on the one hand, we all want to 42 00:02:21,236 --> 00:02:24,156 Speaker 4: know how we can live our best lives for our 43 00:02:24,156 --> 00:02:26,956 Speaker 4: whole life, So what we can do to age healthfully 44 00:02:27,196 --> 00:02:30,316 Speaker 4: and happily. But oftentimes I think that we don't focus 45 00:02:30,356 --> 00:02:33,236 Speaker 4: as much on older adulthood. And I think it's particularly 46 00:02:33,276 --> 00:02:36,116 Speaker 4: important to understand how we can promote well being in 47 00:02:36,156 --> 00:02:40,636 Speaker 4: older adults, and that means both leveraging their age related strengths, 48 00:02:40,836 --> 00:02:43,436 Speaker 4: the things that we gain as we age, but then 49 00:02:43,476 --> 00:02:46,476 Speaker 4: also what kinds of supports and resources we can provide 50 00:02:46,636 --> 00:02:50,676 Speaker 4: to help people navigate age related challenges. And I think 51 00:02:50,716 --> 00:02:54,836 Speaker 4: this is becoming increasingly important as our global population ages. 52 00:02:55,276 --> 00:02:58,236 Speaker 4: So now in most countries around the world, the average 53 00:02:58,236 --> 00:03:01,316 Speaker 4: person can expect to live into older adulthood, and the 54 00:03:01,316 --> 00:03:04,796 Speaker 4: World Health Organization estimates that by the year twenty fifty, 55 00:03:05,116 --> 00:03:07,716 Speaker 4: the number of older adults over the age of sixty 56 00:03:07,756 --> 00:03:10,876 Speaker 4: five is expected to double worldwide. So it's going to 57 00:03:10,876 --> 00:03:13,876 Speaker 4: become even more important for more people for us to 58 00:03:13,996 --> 00:03:16,756 Speaker 4: understand what it means to age happily. 59 00:03:17,116 --> 00:03:18,636 Speaker 2: And so when we think of some of the happiness 60 00:03:18,676 --> 00:03:20,996 Speaker 2: challenges that older adults face, you know, what are some 61 00:03:21,036 --> 00:03:22,756 Speaker 2: of the things that come to mind for a researcher 62 00:03:22,836 --> 00:03:24,156 Speaker 2: like you that studies this population. 63 00:03:24,596 --> 00:03:27,236 Speaker 4: So, on the one hand, aging comes with a lot 64 00:03:27,276 --> 00:03:30,436 Speaker 4: of age related strengths. We know that a lot of 65 00:03:30,476 --> 00:03:33,676 Speaker 4: wisdom comes with age. There's some research to suggest that 66 00:03:33,756 --> 00:03:37,436 Speaker 4: older adults may even be better at regulating their emotions 67 00:03:37,476 --> 00:03:41,156 Speaker 4: and might experience more positive emotions as a result. So, 68 00:03:41,236 --> 00:03:43,276 Speaker 4: on the one hand, we know that there might be 69 00:03:43,356 --> 00:03:48,156 Speaker 4: some wellbeing benefits of aging and in older adulthood, but 70 00:03:48,196 --> 00:03:50,756 Speaker 4: there are also a lot of age related challenges that 71 00:03:50,836 --> 00:03:54,716 Speaker 4: people need to navigate that can impact their well being. So, 72 00:03:54,916 --> 00:03:58,436 Speaker 4: for example, many older adults will experience changes to their 73 00:03:58,436 --> 00:04:02,716 Speaker 4: physical and cognitive health that impact their ability to participate 74 00:04:02,756 --> 00:04:06,396 Speaker 4: in activities that are particularly meaningful to them. Many older 75 00:04:06,396 --> 00:04:10,396 Speaker 4: adults will also experience more losses in terms of loss 76 00:04:10,396 --> 00:04:14,756 Speaker 4: of loved ones, whether that's parents, spouse, friends, And then 77 00:04:14,796 --> 00:04:16,436 Speaker 4: we also know that there can be a lot of 78 00:04:16,556 --> 00:04:21,276 Speaker 4: social changes in older adulthood. Your role and your relationship 79 00:04:21,556 --> 00:04:26,356 Speaker 4: with your children or grandchildren may change. Retirement can be 80 00:04:26,436 --> 00:04:29,276 Speaker 4: really positive for many people, that it can also be 81 00:04:29,596 --> 00:04:33,436 Speaker 4: a major life change that is challenging for others. So 82 00:04:33,716 --> 00:04:38,476 Speaker 4: navigating this time where our health is changing, our social 83 00:04:38,556 --> 00:04:42,916 Speaker 4: roles are changing, all of that can be challenging. But also, 84 00:04:43,156 --> 00:04:46,156 Speaker 4: thankfully we have these age related strengths that are present 85 00:04:46,276 --> 00:04:49,476 Speaker 4: there too that can be drawn upon to help people 86 00:04:49,636 --> 00:04:50,756 Speaker 4: age happily. 87 00:04:50,756 --> 00:04:52,836 Speaker 2: And so one of the things that can really challenge 88 00:04:52,876 --> 00:04:56,316 Speaker 2: our ability to age happily is when older adulthood winds 89 00:04:56,396 --> 00:05:00,276 Speaker 2: up becoming synonymous with dementia. And so talk a little 90 00:05:00,276 --> 00:05:02,596 Speaker 2: bit about the prevalence of dementia and why this is 91 00:05:02,596 --> 00:05:05,116 Speaker 2: something that well being researchers really need to focus on. 92 00:05:05,196 --> 00:05:08,796 Speaker 4: Even more so, dementia's very common in older adulthood. Dementia's 93 00:05:08,796 --> 00:05:12,676 Speaker 4: a clinic goal syndrome that's characterized by progressive memory and 94 00:05:12,756 --> 00:05:16,596 Speaker 4: thinking impairments, and it impacts approximately one in ten older 95 00:05:16,636 --> 00:05:19,356 Speaker 4: adults over the age of sixty five, and actually one 96 00:05:19,396 --> 00:05:22,436 Speaker 4: in three older adults over the age of eighty five. 97 00:05:22,916 --> 00:05:26,516 Speaker 4: And so what that means is as people live longer, 98 00:05:26,876 --> 00:05:30,436 Speaker 4: because age is the largest risk factor for dementia, we 99 00:05:30,516 --> 00:05:33,876 Speaker 4: can expect more dementia cases. For example, by the year 100 00:05:33,956 --> 00:05:37,156 Speaker 4: twenty fifty, the World Health Organization estimates that there will 101 00:05:37,196 --> 00:05:40,156 Speaker 4: be one hundred and thirty nine million people living with 102 00:05:40,236 --> 00:05:44,596 Speaker 4: dementia worldwide. And dementia can really impact quality of life 103 00:05:44,716 --> 00:05:48,716 Speaker 4: by reducing their sense of autonomy, by making it more 104 00:05:48,756 --> 00:05:52,276 Speaker 4: difficult for them to engage socially with loved ones. And 105 00:05:52,436 --> 00:05:56,276 Speaker 4: sometimes there's experiences of shame or embarrassment, particularly in the 106 00:05:56,316 --> 00:06:00,516 Speaker 4: early stages when one starts noticing their new changes in 107 00:06:00,596 --> 00:06:03,836 Speaker 4: memory and thinking, and dementia can also impact quality of 108 00:06:03,876 --> 00:06:07,236 Speaker 4: life for care partners and loved ones of people living 109 00:06:07,316 --> 00:06:11,916 Speaker 4: with dementia. It can be a distressing experience to see 110 00:06:11,916 --> 00:06:14,636 Speaker 4: these memory and thinking changes in those that you love, 111 00:06:15,316 --> 00:06:19,036 Speaker 4: and particularly in the later stages of dementia, it often 112 00:06:19,116 --> 00:06:23,556 Speaker 4: requires a lot of caregiving, which poses sometimes a challenge 113 00:06:23,596 --> 00:06:26,996 Speaker 4: for the care partners of people living with dementia. At 114 00:06:27,036 --> 00:06:29,076 Speaker 4: the same time, I also want to make the point 115 00:06:29,156 --> 00:06:32,356 Speaker 4: that it is possible to live well with dementia. I 116 00:06:32,356 --> 00:06:34,996 Speaker 4: think that it's really common to take a sort of 117 00:06:35,476 --> 00:06:39,516 Speaker 4: deficit focused medical model view of dementia where we only 118 00:06:39,556 --> 00:06:42,996 Speaker 4: look at the challenges and negative experiences, and those are 119 00:06:43,116 --> 00:06:45,916 Speaker 4: very real, so I don't want to discount those, but 120 00:06:45,956 --> 00:06:48,956 Speaker 4: if we only look at that side sometimes I think 121 00:06:48,996 --> 00:06:52,356 Speaker 4: it can prevent us from seeing people living with dementia 122 00:06:52,556 --> 00:06:53,676 Speaker 4: as whole people. 123 00:06:53,876 --> 00:06:56,076 Speaker 2: So many of our listeners will probably know someone with 124 00:06:56,156 --> 00:06:59,116 Speaker 2: dementia or kind of have heard about it. But can 125 00:06:59,156 --> 00:07:02,356 Speaker 2: you unpack for some of the happiness challenges that individuals 126 00:07:02,396 --> 00:07:04,276 Speaker 2: with dementia face, like in their kind. 127 00:07:04,156 --> 00:07:05,916 Speaker 1: Of day to day life because of this disease. 128 00:07:06,236 --> 00:07:08,516 Speaker 4: So I think we can think of the sort of 129 00:07:08,556 --> 00:07:12,036 Speaker 4: psychological needs of people living with dementia the same way 130 00:07:12,076 --> 00:07:15,236 Speaker 4: that we think about everybody's psychological needs and what we 131 00:07:15,396 --> 00:07:20,156 Speaker 4: all need to feel happy in life. Everyone wants to 132 00:07:20,196 --> 00:07:24,236 Speaker 4: feel that their life has meaning and purpose, that they 133 00:07:24,276 --> 00:07:28,156 Speaker 4: can set goals, that they can navigate their day to 134 00:07:28,236 --> 00:07:30,956 Speaker 4: day life and engage in the activities that are meaningful 135 00:07:31,036 --> 00:07:34,036 Speaker 4: to them, and that they can connect with others. And 136 00:07:34,276 --> 00:07:37,356 Speaker 4: the memory and thinking impairments that come with dementia can 137 00:07:37,396 --> 00:07:40,636 Speaker 4: pose challenges to all of those aspects of life. So 138 00:07:40,676 --> 00:07:42,716 Speaker 4: on the one hand, we know that it's really important 139 00:07:42,756 --> 00:07:46,436 Speaker 4: for people to experience a sense of autonomy, that we 140 00:07:46,636 --> 00:07:49,916 Speaker 4: can care for ourselves, that we can direct our own lives, 141 00:07:50,476 --> 00:07:53,476 Speaker 4: and the memory and thinking impairments that come with dementia 142 00:07:53,516 --> 00:07:57,356 Speaker 4: can pose a challenge for autonomy if the individual is 143 00:07:57,396 --> 00:08:00,156 Speaker 4: no longer able to engage in some of the sort 144 00:08:00,156 --> 00:08:02,756 Speaker 4: of typical activities of daily living that they've done in 145 00:08:02,796 --> 00:08:05,956 Speaker 4: the past and now require assistance or care to do 146 00:08:05,996 --> 00:08:10,916 Speaker 4: those daily activities that can impact quality of life. Another 147 00:08:10,956 --> 00:08:14,356 Speaker 4: important psychological need is our need to connect with others 148 00:08:14,396 --> 00:08:18,276 Speaker 4: socially that can be impacted. In people living with dementia, 149 00:08:18,316 --> 00:08:21,796 Speaker 4: it can be sometimes more difficult to follow a conversation, 150 00:08:22,196 --> 00:08:26,916 Speaker 4: it can sometimes pose challenges and close relationships as those 151 00:08:26,956 --> 00:08:30,276 Speaker 4: relationships and the nature of them begins to change, and 152 00:08:30,356 --> 00:08:34,436 Speaker 4: so thinking about that, it's really important to create support 153 00:08:34,516 --> 00:08:38,316 Speaker 4: systems and strategies that provide opportunities for people living with 154 00:08:38,356 --> 00:08:42,516 Speaker 4: dementia to engage first of all with their loved ones 155 00:08:42,796 --> 00:08:47,796 Speaker 4: and maintain those existing social relationships, but also group activities 156 00:08:47,836 --> 00:08:51,196 Speaker 4: with other people living with dementia and experiencing memory and 157 00:08:51,236 --> 00:08:54,356 Speaker 4: thinking impairments. So sort of group support systems can be 158 00:08:54,396 --> 00:08:57,876 Speaker 4: really helpful. And then there's also some really interesting research 159 00:08:58,036 --> 00:09:02,876 Speaker 4: on intergenerational relationships and some of the positive well being boosting, 160 00:09:02,916 --> 00:09:08,036 Speaker 4: happiness boosting effects of connecting older adults living with dementia 161 00:09:08,076 --> 00:09:13,796 Speaker 4: with youngers and having that intergenerational social support system as well. 162 00:09:14,036 --> 00:09:17,916 Speaker 4: But unfortunately, there's currently no cure for dementia. We're just 163 00:09:17,996 --> 00:09:21,516 Speaker 4: starting to see some biomedical treatments that might slow cognitive 164 00:09:21,516 --> 00:09:24,956 Speaker 4: decline in individuals with dementia, but there is no treatment 165 00:09:24,996 --> 00:09:28,156 Speaker 4: that is going to stop the progression of dementia or 166 00:09:28,276 --> 00:09:32,436 Speaker 4: alleviate the existing symptoms of dementia and for that reason, 167 00:09:32,716 --> 00:09:36,956 Speaker 4: we've really started also focusing on strategies to prevent dementia, 168 00:09:37,556 --> 00:09:41,356 Speaker 4: and as a psychologist and a well being researcher, that's 169 00:09:41,436 --> 00:09:44,596 Speaker 4: really where my side of the science comes in. We 170 00:09:44,676 --> 00:09:47,836 Speaker 4: know that the way that people live their lives, lifestyle 171 00:09:47,916 --> 00:09:51,876 Speaker 4: and psychological factors can have a major influence on who's 172 00:09:51,996 --> 00:09:55,276 Speaker 4: likely to go on to develop dementia. So, for example, 173 00:09:55,436 --> 00:09:58,556 Speaker 4: a growing body of research suggests that people with higher 174 00:09:58,636 --> 00:10:02,396 Speaker 4: levels of wellbeing are actually less likely to develop dementia. 175 00:10:02,876 --> 00:10:06,396 Speaker 4: These studies have assessed wellbeing earlier in the lifespan, so 176 00:10:06,556 --> 00:10:10,036 Speaker 4: in midlife, our early older adulthood, and then followed people 177 00:10:10,076 --> 00:10:13,236 Speaker 4: across time for years or in many cases decades to 178 00:10:13,276 --> 00:10:16,556 Speaker 4: see who goes on to develop cognitive decline and dementia. 179 00:10:16,996 --> 00:10:18,956 Speaker 4: And what these studies have found is that people with 180 00:10:19,076 --> 00:10:21,876 Speaker 4: higher levels of wellbeing at the beginning of the study 181 00:10:21,916 --> 00:10:25,036 Speaker 4: period are the ones who are least likely to develop 182 00:10:25,076 --> 00:10:28,076 Speaker 4: dementia by the end of the study. And there's several 183 00:10:28,076 --> 00:10:32,196 Speaker 4: different potential reasons or explanations for this relationship. On the 184 00:10:32,196 --> 00:10:34,756 Speaker 4: one hand, we know that people with higher well being 185 00:10:35,076 --> 00:10:37,876 Speaker 4: engage in a lot of health protective behaviors that are 186 00:10:37,876 --> 00:10:41,396 Speaker 4: important for maintaining cognitive and brain health and older adulthood. 187 00:10:41,796 --> 00:10:44,236 Speaker 4: For example, people with higher wellbeing are more likely to 188 00:10:44,276 --> 00:10:48,076 Speaker 4: engage in physical exercise, they're less likely to smoke, and 189 00:10:48,116 --> 00:10:51,436 Speaker 4: they're likely to have supportive social relationships that can be 190 00:10:51,756 --> 00:10:55,556 Speaker 4: really protective across the lifespan. We also know that wellbeing 191 00:10:55,636 --> 00:10:59,236 Speaker 4: can serve as sort of stress buffering effect or a 192 00:10:59,276 --> 00:11:02,396 Speaker 4: shield that can protect our bodily systems from the harmful 193 00:11:02,396 --> 00:11:05,236 Speaker 4: effects of stress. Stress is just a part of life. 194 00:11:05,316 --> 00:11:09,636 Speaker 4: Everyone experiences stress, but when that stress is chronic or 195 00:11:09,836 --> 00:11:14,716 Speaker 4: severe or particularly uncontrollable, it can harm a lot of 196 00:11:14,756 --> 00:11:19,356 Speaker 4: our bodily systems, such as our immune functioning, our cardiovascular functioning, 197 00:11:19,516 --> 00:11:23,716 Speaker 4: our neuroendocrine system and all of those different bodily systems 198 00:11:23,796 --> 00:11:27,036 Speaker 4: are important for our risk for developing dementia, and what 199 00:11:27,076 --> 00:11:30,316 Speaker 4: research suggests is that people with higher levels of wellbeing, 200 00:11:30,716 --> 00:11:34,436 Speaker 4: they're less likely to be exposed to the same severe, 201 00:11:34,516 --> 00:11:37,876 Speaker 4: chronic stressors, and when they are exposed to those stressors, 202 00:11:38,036 --> 00:11:43,036 Speaker 4: they often show a more adaptive or protected physiological response, 203 00:11:43,476 --> 00:11:47,196 Speaker 4: suggesting that wellbeing might be a buffer that can sort 204 00:11:47,196 --> 00:11:49,436 Speaker 4: of stand in the way of those harmful effects that 205 00:11:49,476 --> 00:11:52,756 Speaker 4: stress typically has on the body and in turn for dementia. 206 00:11:52,796 --> 00:11:55,756 Speaker 4: That means that it may protect the brain and cognition 207 00:11:56,196 --> 00:11:59,956 Speaker 4: and reduce the likelihood that an individual experiencing stress will 208 00:11:59,996 --> 00:12:01,276 Speaker 4: go on to develop dementia. 209 00:12:01,356 --> 00:12:02,516 Speaker 1: It's such a win win, right. 210 00:12:02,556 --> 00:12:04,436 Speaker 2: It's like, when we think about the kinds of things 211 00:12:04,516 --> 00:12:07,436 Speaker 2: we need to do to prevent some of these diseases 212 00:12:07,476 --> 00:12:08,596 Speaker 2: of later in life. 213 00:12:08,396 --> 00:12:11,076 Speaker 1: Some of these things I feel honestly like a bummer. Right. 214 00:12:11,076 --> 00:12:12,916 Speaker 2: You know, we have to change how we eat or 215 00:12:12,956 --> 00:12:15,276 Speaker 2: eat much more healthy or whatever. But this is one 216 00:12:15,276 --> 00:12:16,916 Speaker 2: where it's like, no, No, What you do is you 217 00:12:16,956 --> 00:12:19,636 Speaker 2: focus on all the things that make you happier in 218 00:12:19,676 --> 00:12:21,476 Speaker 2: mid life and early in life, and that's going to 219 00:12:21,516 --> 00:12:23,836 Speaker 2: have this protective effect. It's like, it's something that we 220 00:12:23,916 --> 00:12:26,076 Speaker 2: all want to be doing anyway, but it also is 221 00:12:26,076 --> 00:12:27,796 Speaker 2: going to have this effect that we also don't think. 222 00:12:28,076 --> 00:12:30,156 Speaker 2: Was this kind of shocking to researchers when they first 223 00:12:30,316 --> 00:12:33,836 Speaker 2: started noticing this sort of connection between well being earlier 224 00:12:33,876 --> 00:12:35,316 Speaker 2: in life and reduced dementia later. 225 00:12:35,556 --> 00:12:37,476 Speaker 4: Yeah, And first of all, I just want to echo 226 00:12:37,556 --> 00:12:39,796 Speaker 4: your point. I think one of the reasons that it's 227 00:12:39,836 --> 00:12:42,996 Speaker 4: so exciting to think about well being as a potential 228 00:12:43,076 --> 00:12:46,196 Speaker 4: protective factor is because many of the other things that 229 00:12:46,236 --> 00:12:50,836 Speaker 4: we know impact dementia risk, such as diet and nutrition, 230 00:12:51,236 --> 00:12:56,596 Speaker 4: physical activity, quitting, smoking control, and cardiovascular risk factors. Those 231 00:12:56,596 --> 00:13:00,436 Speaker 4: things are really hard. We know that behavior change is hard. 232 00:13:00,916 --> 00:13:04,916 Speaker 4: Some of those, like the cardiovascular risk factors, require medical interventions, 233 00:13:04,956 --> 00:13:09,836 Speaker 4: which can be difficult to access, expensive, or have their 234 00:13:09,876 --> 00:13:14,236 Speaker 4: own limitations. But improving well being is something that, hopefully 235 00:13:14,316 --> 00:13:20,156 Speaker 4: for most people, is intrinsically valuable and intrinsically a positive experience. 236 00:13:20,676 --> 00:13:24,956 Speaker 4: So I think that there's a long tradition in the 237 00:13:24,996 --> 00:13:29,116 Speaker 4: science of wellbeing of thinking about the connection between well 238 00:13:29,116 --> 00:13:32,476 Speaker 4: being and mental health broadly and physical health. So on 239 00:13:32,516 --> 00:13:36,396 Speaker 4: the one hand, drawing from this longstanding science of well 240 00:13:36,436 --> 00:13:41,476 Speaker 4: being and seeing that more positive psychological factors, greater happiness 241 00:13:41,596 --> 00:13:45,956 Speaker 4: is associated with better physical health, it's not necessarily surprising 242 00:13:45,996 --> 00:13:47,916 Speaker 4: that we would see the same thing when it comes 243 00:13:47,996 --> 00:13:51,036 Speaker 4: to our cognitive health and dementia. But I do think 244 00:13:51,076 --> 00:13:54,436 Speaker 4: there are some findings that we're surprising to me at 245 00:13:54,556 --> 00:13:58,156 Speaker 4: least personally, and very exciting. So, for example, my lab 246 00:13:58,236 --> 00:14:02,156 Speaker 4: did a study looking at the relationship between well being 247 00:14:02,796 --> 00:14:05,556 Speaker 4: cognitive functions to sort of our memory and thinking skills 248 00:14:05,556 --> 00:14:08,676 Speaker 4: that are typically affected by dementia and then the actual 249 00:14:08,716 --> 00:14:13,316 Speaker 4: disease processes that cause dementia, so the neuropathology present in 250 00:14:13,356 --> 00:14:16,956 Speaker 4: people's brains. And what we found is that well being 251 00:14:17,076 --> 00:14:21,876 Speaker 4: was not necessarily related to the amount of disease pathology present, 252 00:14:22,436 --> 00:14:25,916 Speaker 4: but what it was related to was people's ability to 253 00:14:26,036 --> 00:14:30,116 Speaker 4: maintain those memory and thinking skills across time, even in 254 00:14:30,156 --> 00:14:34,276 Speaker 4: the presence of that dementia causing pathology. So what that 255 00:14:34,396 --> 00:14:38,596 Speaker 4: finding suggests is that well being might actually help us 256 00:14:38,636 --> 00:14:42,076 Speaker 4: to maintain our memory and thinking even when the disease 257 00:14:42,276 --> 00:14:45,276 Speaker 4: is already present in our brains. And to me, that 258 00:14:46,316 --> 00:14:50,116 Speaker 4: was surprising but also really exciting because it suggests that 259 00:14:50,156 --> 00:14:56,116 Speaker 4: there's these multiple pathways that scientists and medical professionals and 260 00:14:56,196 --> 00:15:01,636 Speaker 4: individuals can pursue to reduce the likelihood of dementia, both 261 00:15:01,716 --> 00:15:05,676 Speaker 4: strategies to prevent the accumulation of those disease processes, but 262 00:15:05,876 --> 00:15:09,716 Speaker 4: also alongside that strategy is like improving well that might 263 00:15:09,756 --> 00:15:13,516 Speaker 4: help us to be able to live well and tolerate 264 00:15:13,596 --> 00:15:15,996 Speaker 4: a certain level of neuropathology. 265 00:15:17,156 --> 00:15:19,356 Speaker 2: So there definitely are things we can do to help 266 00:15:19,396 --> 00:15:22,156 Speaker 2: ward off the impact of dementia, and we'll hear about 267 00:15:22,156 --> 00:15:24,556 Speaker 2: more strategies we can use to build up our cognitive 268 00:15:24,556 --> 00:15:27,516 Speaker 2: resilience as we age when the happiness lab returns in 269 00:15:27,556 --> 00:15:36,156 Speaker 2: a moment. When we think about how to avoid disease, 270 00:15:36,396 --> 00:15:39,116 Speaker 2: we tend to think of factors that improve our physical health, 271 00:15:39,516 --> 00:15:42,796 Speaker 2: things like access to medicine and clean water, maybe stuff 272 00:15:42,836 --> 00:15:46,276 Speaker 2: like nutritious foods or sanitary practices. We tend not to 273 00:15:46,316 --> 00:15:48,316 Speaker 2: think of the impact of stuff like hanging out with 274 00:15:48,356 --> 00:15:51,676 Speaker 2: a friend, or taking an educational course or looking at 275 00:15:51,716 --> 00:15:55,116 Speaker 2: a painting. But Emily Wilwroth and her colleagues have learned 276 00:15:55,116 --> 00:15:58,076 Speaker 2: that one of the cruelest health challenges of our era, dementia, 277 00:15:58,196 --> 00:16:00,556 Speaker 2: can be tackled in some unexpected ways. 278 00:16:00,996 --> 00:16:05,196 Speaker 4: When we're thinking about strategies to prevent dementia, some of 279 00:16:05,236 --> 00:16:08,436 Speaker 4: the things that we have the most control over. We 280 00:16:08,476 --> 00:16:12,116 Speaker 4: can think about engaging in social activities and fostering our 281 00:16:12,156 --> 00:16:16,796 Speaker 4: social relationships. That can be one of the strongest psychosocial 282 00:16:16,996 --> 00:16:20,676 Speaker 4: preventative factors. And we also know that social relationships and 283 00:16:20,716 --> 00:16:23,516 Speaker 4: social activity are really good for our well being. We 284 00:16:23,596 --> 00:16:27,196 Speaker 4: also know that physical activity and sleep are really important. 285 00:16:27,396 --> 00:16:30,996 Speaker 4: There's also various factors when we're looking into later life 286 00:16:31,196 --> 00:16:33,676 Speaker 4: that people can do to lower their risk for dementia, 287 00:16:33,996 --> 00:16:38,796 Speaker 4: and most of those are related to controlling cardiovascular risk factors, so, 288 00:16:38,956 --> 00:16:44,716 Speaker 4: for example, maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, treating diabetes if 289 00:16:44,756 --> 00:16:49,596 Speaker 4: it's present, quitting or not starting smoking, or excessive alcohol consumption, 290 00:16:50,076 --> 00:16:53,036 Speaker 4: all of these sort of typical health behaviors we know 291 00:16:53,356 --> 00:16:57,276 Speaker 4: play a really big role in reducing one's likelihood of 292 00:16:57,356 --> 00:17:01,156 Speaker 4: developing dementia. And more broadly, when we look at strategies 293 00:17:01,196 --> 00:17:04,716 Speaker 4: to promote well being and happiness, there's quite a few 294 00:17:04,756 --> 00:17:09,396 Speaker 4: strategies that the scientific literature has begun to suggest might 295 00:17:09,436 --> 00:17:12,636 Speaker 4: be effective. But I think it's really important for people 296 00:17:12,716 --> 00:17:15,636 Speaker 4: to also pay attention to their own feelings and how 297 00:17:15,676 --> 00:17:18,636 Speaker 4: they respond to these different strategies and sort of notice 298 00:17:18,676 --> 00:17:21,396 Speaker 4: what works well for them. So, for example, there's some 299 00:17:21,476 --> 00:17:26,796 Speaker 4: research to suggest that engaging in gratitude practices or mindfulness, 300 00:17:27,276 --> 00:17:32,676 Speaker 4: social activity, getting out in nature, moving one's body, all 301 00:17:32,716 --> 00:17:35,276 Speaker 4: of these things there's some evidence to suggest that they 302 00:17:35,356 --> 00:17:38,676 Speaker 4: can promote happiness and well being, but that doesn't mean 303 00:17:38,676 --> 00:17:41,236 Speaker 4: that they promote happiness and well being for everybody the 304 00:17:41,276 --> 00:17:44,516 Speaker 4: same way. And one thing that is nice about trying 305 00:17:44,516 --> 00:17:47,676 Speaker 4: to improve one's well being is that we are really 306 00:17:47,716 --> 00:17:50,956 Speaker 4: the best judges of what's working well for us. Because 307 00:17:50,956 --> 00:17:54,636 Speaker 4: we're the best judges of our own wellbeing and happiness. 308 00:17:54,956 --> 00:17:57,396 Speaker 2: You know, so many of these happiness interventions are things 309 00:17:57,436 --> 00:17:59,716 Speaker 2: that we can do at any age. But I'm thinking 310 00:17:59,756 --> 00:18:02,076 Speaker 2: of my listeners who might be in their twenties and 311 00:18:02,116 --> 00:18:04,716 Speaker 2: their thirties and forties. You know, if you had to pick, 312 00:18:04,836 --> 00:18:07,116 Speaker 2: you know, one type of intervention that might be good 313 00:18:07,156 --> 00:18:10,316 Speaker 2: at different age ranges, what would you suggest to listeners. 314 00:18:10,836 --> 00:18:14,436 Speaker 4: So in early life, thinking of teens and twenties, I 315 00:18:14,476 --> 00:18:20,316 Speaker 4: think staying engaged in education can be really protective. When 316 00:18:20,356 --> 00:18:23,916 Speaker 4: thinking more about midlife and thirties and forties, I'm not 317 00:18:23,956 --> 00:18:25,756 Speaker 4: gonna pick one, I'm gonna pick two. I'm going to 318 00:18:25,796 --> 00:18:30,196 Speaker 4: say one. We know that social activity is so important, 319 00:18:30,596 --> 00:18:33,676 Speaker 4: and one thing that I think is really helpful to 320 00:18:33,676 --> 00:18:35,956 Speaker 4: know about that is a lot of research suggests that 321 00:18:36,036 --> 00:18:39,396 Speaker 4: it is the quality of social interactions and social relationships, 322 00:18:39,676 --> 00:18:41,836 Speaker 4: not the quantity that matters. So it doesn't mean that 323 00:18:41,876 --> 00:18:44,716 Speaker 4: everyone needs to be extroverted and go out to parties 324 00:18:44,756 --> 00:18:49,036 Speaker 4: and have a million friends, but instead really just nurturing 325 00:18:49,116 --> 00:18:53,196 Speaker 4: those social relationships that you do have and spending time 326 00:18:53,276 --> 00:18:56,356 Speaker 4: with close loved ones. The other that I would say 327 00:18:56,436 --> 00:18:59,396 Speaker 4: for midlife is engaging in physical activity. This is so 328 00:18:59,476 --> 00:19:02,396 Speaker 4: important for our mental health as well as our physical 329 00:19:02,476 --> 00:19:06,236 Speaker 4: and cognitive health, and midlife is a really important time 330 00:19:06,396 --> 00:19:11,116 Speaker 4: to sort of be prevention focused when thinking about cardiovascular 331 00:19:11,156 --> 00:19:15,116 Speaker 4: health and ultimately cognitive health. So either maintaining or starting 332 00:19:15,396 --> 00:19:19,716 Speaker 4: a physical activity routine that is one that you feel 333 00:19:19,876 --> 00:19:22,396 Speaker 4: like you can maintain across the lifespan. So for some 334 00:19:22,476 --> 00:19:25,756 Speaker 4: people that might look like typical exercise going to the gym, 335 00:19:25,956 --> 00:19:28,156 Speaker 4: but for other people that might look like a daily 336 00:19:28,196 --> 00:19:32,356 Speaker 4: walk or getting out in nature or playing pickleball with friends. 337 00:19:32,356 --> 00:19:35,676 Speaker 4: So finding something that brings you joy, that gets your 338 00:19:35,676 --> 00:19:38,276 Speaker 4: body moving in mid life I think is really important. 339 00:19:38,556 --> 00:19:40,516 Speaker 2: You mentioned in your twenties you really want to focus 340 00:19:40,596 --> 00:19:43,716 Speaker 2: on education. Why is education so important? This is often 341 00:19:43,836 --> 00:19:46,836 Speaker 2: not necessarily something I would think would matter for happiness 342 00:19:46,916 --> 00:19:49,596 Speaker 2: or sort of dementia prevention, But what does education help 343 00:19:49,676 --> 00:19:50,916 Speaker 2: us do psychologically? 344 00:19:51,116 --> 00:19:54,956 Speaker 4: Yeah, So we see a really strong protective effect on 345 00:19:55,636 --> 00:20:00,956 Speaker 4: high quality education in lowering the likelihood of cognitive decline 346 00:20:00,996 --> 00:20:04,756 Speaker 4: in dementia in late life. And there's several reasons why 347 00:20:04,796 --> 00:20:08,556 Speaker 4: that might be. We know, for example, that cognitive activity 348 00:20:08,716 --> 00:20:13,316 Speaker 4: is really important for cognitive and brain health, and so 349 00:20:13,756 --> 00:20:18,476 Speaker 4: early life education might set the foundation for that, and 350 00:20:18,556 --> 00:20:22,516 Speaker 4: it also may simply be so many people have dementia 351 00:20:22,556 --> 00:20:28,116 Speaker 4: related neuropathology the disease processes that cause dementia, without necessarily 352 00:20:28,436 --> 00:20:33,556 Speaker 4: experiencing the clinical syndrome of dementia. And one reason for 353 00:20:33,716 --> 00:20:38,876 Speaker 4: that might be that if we are consistently engaged in 354 00:20:38,916 --> 00:20:43,596 Speaker 4: cognitive activities, we are sort of able to maintain those 355 00:20:43,636 --> 00:20:47,956 Speaker 4: memory and thinking impairments even in the presence of that pathology. 356 00:20:48,396 --> 00:20:53,236 Speaker 4: We call that cognitive resilience, and research suggests that education, 357 00:20:53,356 --> 00:20:56,516 Speaker 4: and in particular high quality education is one of the 358 00:20:56,676 --> 00:21:01,716 Speaker 4: biggest factors associated with cognitive resilience. So for many people 359 00:21:02,076 --> 00:21:05,676 Speaker 4: it's going to be inevitable at least now, with where 360 00:21:05,676 --> 00:21:09,956 Speaker 4: our biomedical treatments are, that demention related neuropathology you will accumulate. 361 00:21:10,356 --> 00:21:12,756 Speaker 4: But education is one of the things that we can 362 00:21:12,916 --> 00:21:15,876 Speaker 4: sort of arm ourselves with or protect ourselves with that 363 00:21:15,916 --> 00:21:19,716 Speaker 4: will allow our memory and thinking abilities to continue and 364 00:21:19,756 --> 00:21:23,476 Speaker 4: to maintain those cognitive functions in the presence of this 365 00:21:23,876 --> 00:21:24,796 Speaker 4: disease process. 366 00:21:25,196 --> 00:21:27,396 Speaker 2: And so as we think about these tools and strategies 367 00:21:27,436 --> 00:21:30,516 Speaker 2: we should begin engaging in, there's also this question of 368 00:21:30,556 --> 00:21:32,596 Speaker 2: when we need to start them. What do we know 369 00:21:32,636 --> 00:21:34,756 Speaker 2: about the kind of early history of some of these 370 00:21:34,796 --> 00:21:38,036 Speaker 2: preventative measures sort of dealing with dementia down the line. 371 00:21:38,156 --> 00:21:40,596 Speaker 4: That's a great question. On the one hand, you can 372 00:21:40,636 --> 00:21:44,356 Speaker 4: imagine that maintaining and increasing well being as early as 373 00:21:44,396 --> 00:21:46,916 Speaker 4: possible and then maintaining it across the lifespan might be 374 00:21:46,996 --> 00:21:50,436 Speaker 4: the most protective. Right, there's probably no better time to 375 00:21:50,556 --> 00:21:53,796 Speaker 4: start increasing well being than the present and then maintaining 376 00:21:53,836 --> 00:21:57,916 Speaker 4: that across time. And given the mechanisms that we think 377 00:21:57,956 --> 00:22:00,756 Speaker 4: are at play with the link between well being and dementia, 378 00:22:01,196 --> 00:22:04,116 Speaker 4: I think that approach makes a lot of conceptual sense. 379 00:22:04,556 --> 00:22:08,476 Speaker 4: Health behaviors and their impact on health is cumulative, the 380 00:22:08,516 --> 00:22:11,876 Speaker 4: harmful of stress on our bodies that wellbeing might buffer 381 00:22:11,956 --> 00:22:15,996 Speaker 4: our cumulative So from that perspective, starting early and maintaining 382 00:22:15,996 --> 00:22:19,236 Speaker 4: well being across the lifespan might be the most beneficial. 383 00:22:19,636 --> 00:22:21,596 Speaker 4: But then on the other hand, when thinking of going 384 00:22:21,596 --> 00:22:26,756 Speaker 4: to implement these wellbeing interventions to improve cognitive outcomes and 385 00:22:26,796 --> 00:22:29,956 Speaker 4: reduce dementia risk for the greatest number of people, I 386 00:22:29,956 --> 00:22:32,916 Speaker 4: think that's still an open scientific question whether we should 387 00:22:32,956 --> 00:22:36,236 Speaker 4: be intervening in midlife or more proximal to when we 388 00:22:36,316 --> 00:22:41,636 Speaker 4: start to see cognitive change and the mint related neuropathology accumulate, 389 00:22:41,876 --> 00:22:44,116 Speaker 4: such as an early older adulthood. So I think that's 390 00:22:44,116 --> 00:22:48,036 Speaker 4: still an open scientific question that we as researchers need 391 00:22:48,036 --> 00:22:52,076 Speaker 4: to dig into more. But in terms of the general public, 392 00:22:52,356 --> 00:22:56,236 Speaker 4: I think that a strategy of increasing your wellbeing and 393 00:22:56,276 --> 00:22:58,916 Speaker 4: putting your mental health first, no matter where you are 394 00:22:58,956 --> 00:23:01,596 Speaker 4: and the lifespan, is likely to be effective. 395 00:23:01,916 --> 00:23:04,156 Speaker 2: And so so far we've been talking about ways that 396 00:23:04,196 --> 00:23:07,556 Speaker 2: we can engage our well being to prevent dementia. Later on, 397 00:23:07,916 --> 00:23:09,436 Speaker 2: you know, what do we know about what we can 398 00:23:09,476 --> 00:23:12,916 Speaker 2: do to use well being practices to improve dementia, kind 399 00:23:12,956 --> 00:23:15,156 Speaker 2: of once the disease has already started, Because I think 400 00:23:15,236 --> 00:23:18,316 Speaker 2: sometimes when people get these diagnoses, or you know, family 401 00:23:18,316 --> 00:23:20,556 Speaker 2: members or caretakers hear this, it's like this kind of 402 00:23:20,556 --> 00:23:21,916 Speaker 2: game over idea. 403 00:23:21,956 --> 00:23:25,276 Speaker 4: I think it's really common for us to take a 404 00:23:25,356 --> 00:23:29,196 Speaker 4: deficit focused approach to thinking about dementia, thinking about the 405 00:23:29,236 --> 00:23:33,356 Speaker 4: things that are lost, both at the individual level. It 406 00:23:33,396 --> 00:23:36,156 Speaker 4: can be scary for an individual to get a diagnosis 407 00:23:36,196 --> 00:23:38,396 Speaker 4: of a dementia or for a loved one to get 408 00:23:38,436 --> 00:23:41,876 Speaker 4: a diagnosis of dementia, and so it's really easy to 409 00:23:41,916 --> 00:23:47,116 Speaker 4: focus only on the challenges without also thinking about all 410 00:23:47,156 --> 00:23:50,636 Speaker 4: of the opportunities that that individual still has to experience 411 00:23:51,076 --> 00:23:56,676 Speaker 4: a meaningful, purposeful, joyful life. And we're also guilty of 412 00:23:56,716 --> 00:24:01,556 Speaker 4: doing this from the sort of medical system care standpoint. 413 00:24:02,036 --> 00:24:06,836 Speaker 4: So oftentimes in memory care facilities, it'll be common to 414 00:24:06,876 --> 00:24:12,756 Speaker 4: focus on unwanted behavior or distress and reducing those without 415 00:24:12,796 --> 00:24:17,596 Speaker 4: thinking about strategies to increase joy or happiness or purpose 416 00:24:17,796 --> 00:24:21,836 Speaker 4: or well being among individuals living with dementia. But increasingly 417 00:24:21,916 --> 00:24:25,356 Speaker 4: there is greater awareness that it is possible to live 418 00:24:25,396 --> 00:24:28,876 Speaker 4: well with dementia, and there are several strategies that can 419 00:24:28,996 --> 00:24:32,796 Speaker 4: increase the likelihood that if someone with dementia continues to 420 00:24:32,876 --> 00:24:36,076 Speaker 4: experience high levels of well being. So first we can 421 00:24:36,116 --> 00:24:39,116 Speaker 4: think about the environment that the individual is living in. 422 00:24:39,316 --> 00:24:42,356 Speaker 4: There's some research to suggest that older adults in general 423 00:24:42,796 --> 00:24:46,876 Speaker 4: and individuals living with dementia prefer to do what's called 424 00:24:46,996 --> 00:24:50,596 Speaker 4: aging in place, or remaining at home as long as possible, 425 00:24:51,036 --> 00:24:55,076 Speaker 4: in a comfortable, familiar environment where they're able to maintain 426 00:24:55,236 --> 00:24:58,516 Speaker 4: some of their typical day to day routines and some 427 00:24:58,756 --> 00:25:02,316 Speaker 4: autonomy or agency over their day to day life. Sometimes 428 00:25:02,316 --> 00:25:05,476 Speaker 4: this isn't always possible or safe for an individual to 429 00:25:05,516 --> 00:25:08,956 Speaker 4: continue to live at home right now, the traditional, most 430 00:25:09,116 --> 00:25:12,956 Speaker 4: typical model of care would be for that individual to 431 00:25:12,996 --> 00:25:16,996 Speaker 4: move into a nursing home type facility or a memory 432 00:25:17,036 --> 00:25:21,156 Speaker 4: care facility, and there we can think about different strategies 433 00:25:21,196 --> 00:25:24,876 Speaker 4: to make that environment as familiar and homelike and as 434 00:25:24,876 --> 00:25:29,076 Speaker 4: comfortable as possible, so rather than feeling like a hospital, 435 00:25:29,116 --> 00:25:33,396 Speaker 4: feeling more like a home. And then several countries around 436 00:25:33,396 --> 00:25:39,436 Speaker 4: the world are trying new, more innovative care models. For example, 437 00:25:39,876 --> 00:25:45,596 Speaker 4: there's a model called dementia villages, where individuals living with 438 00:25:45,676 --> 00:25:50,876 Speaker 4: dementia live in homelike atmospheres and apartments within a community 439 00:25:50,916 --> 00:25:55,436 Speaker 4: that has grocery stores and libraries and some of the 440 00:25:55,476 --> 00:25:57,716 Speaker 4: typical things that you would expect a community or a 441 00:25:57,756 --> 00:26:02,796 Speaker 4: neighborhood to have, but within one safe community of other 442 00:26:02,836 --> 00:26:07,276 Speaker 4: individuals living with dementia, as well as care partners and caregivers. 443 00:26:07,636 --> 00:26:10,636 Speaker 4: We can also think more the individual level about different 444 00:26:10,676 --> 00:26:14,796 Speaker 4: interventions or strategies that can be beneficial for well being. So, 445 00:26:14,916 --> 00:26:18,476 Speaker 4: for example, there's some research to suggest that cultural arts 446 00:26:18,516 --> 00:26:23,156 Speaker 4: interventions are really effective at increasing the wellbeing of people 447 00:26:23,236 --> 00:26:27,036 Speaker 4: living with dementia, and this can involve creative endeavors like 448 00:26:27,196 --> 00:26:32,516 Speaker 4: creating art, drawing, and painting, dancing and movement therapy has 449 00:26:32,556 --> 00:26:35,356 Speaker 4: been shown to be effective, but it can also be 450 00:26:35,516 --> 00:26:42,036 Speaker 4: about experiencing art and culture, whether that is viewing visual art, 451 00:26:42,236 --> 00:26:46,516 Speaker 4: listening to music, seeing theater productions. All of these different 452 00:26:46,516 --> 00:26:50,676 Speaker 4: ways of engaging with arts and culture can be helpful 453 00:26:50,716 --> 00:26:54,196 Speaker 4: for helping individuals living with dementia continue to experience the 454 00:26:54,236 --> 00:26:57,156 Speaker 4: same joys of life that all of us appreciate, as 455 00:26:57,196 --> 00:27:01,036 Speaker 4: well as reminiscence therapies, which are opportunities for individuals living 456 00:27:01,076 --> 00:27:05,436 Speaker 4: with dementia to recall meaningful memories and tell those through 457 00:27:05,476 --> 00:27:10,756 Speaker 4: different storytelling means. Intergenerational intervaval engines that bring together older 458 00:27:10,836 --> 00:27:15,356 Speaker 4: adults living with dementia with younger generations, and that opportunity 459 00:27:15,476 --> 00:27:20,116 Speaker 4: to connect across generations can be really protective for well being. 460 00:27:20,356 --> 00:27:22,556 Speaker 2: You mentioned one of these activities that I really love, 461 00:27:22,676 --> 00:27:26,196 Speaker 2: this idea of reminiscing activities or life story books. 462 00:27:26,236 --> 00:27:27,316 Speaker 1: What's a life story book? 463 00:27:27,316 --> 00:27:29,756 Speaker 2: And how could a family member who wanted to do 464 00:27:29,796 --> 00:27:32,076 Speaker 2: this with one of their loved ones who was experiencing dementia. 465 00:27:32,116 --> 00:27:33,676 Speaker 1: How could they engage with something like this? 466 00:27:34,196 --> 00:27:38,116 Speaker 4: So it can often be helpful to use physical cues, 467 00:27:38,196 --> 00:27:43,316 Speaker 4: so things like photo albums or familiar objects to help 468 00:27:43,596 --> 00:27:47,996 Speaker 4: remind people of memories that are personally meaningful to them. 469 00:27:48,156 --> 00:27:50,676 Speaker 4: You can also ask about you know, if you're thinking 470 00:27:50,716 --> 00:27:53,916 Speaker 4: about your family member living with dementia, you can ask 471 00:27:53,996 --> 00:27:56,596 Speaker 4: them to tell you stories maybe that you haven't even 472 00:27:56,756 --> 00:28:00,116 Speaker 4: heard before, and it can be really beneficial for a 473 00:28:00,116 --> 00:28:03,716 Speaker 4: lot of reasons. It gives the individual living with dementia 474 00:28:03,756 --> 00:28:08,516 Speaker 4: the opportunity to reflect back and sort of preserve some 475 00:28:08,556 --> 00:28:11,876 Speaker 4: of these memory worries, and to connect socially with the 476 00:28:11,916 --> 00:28:16,076 Speaker 4: person that they're telling these stories too, and thinking about 477 00:28:16,356 --> 00:28:18,836 Speaker 4: sort of the well being of the loved ones. It 478 00:28:18,876 --> 00:28:22,876 Speaker 4: can be also really helpful to document and record these stories, 479 00:28:22,956 --> 00:28:27,036 Speaker 4: whether that's to write them down to record them digitally. 480 00:28:27,516 --> 00:28:31,756 Speaker 4: All of these different strategies can help preserve the personhood 481 00:28:31,956 --> 00:28:35,316 Speaker 4: of the person with dementia and also provide these really 482 00:28:35,636 --> 00:28:38,956 Speaker 4: valuable keepsakes and memories and stories for their loved ones. 483 00:28:39,516 --> 00:28:41,556 Speaker 2: Another thing you talked about in the report is the 484 00:28:41,596 --> 00:28:45,396 Speaker 2: possibility that we can start using technology better to help 485 00:28:45,476 --> 00:28:48,316 Speaker 2: with dementia and sort of to help individuals with dementia 486 00:28:48,356 --> 00:28:51,036 Speaker 2: live better lives. How can technology help us here? 487 00:28:51,196 --> 00:28:53,956 Speaker 4: First, we can think of assistive technologies, so things that 488 00:28:53,996 --> 00:28:59,116 Speaker 4: can help individuals remain safe while also maintaining their autonomy. So, 489 00:28:59,316 --> 00:29:03,676 Speaker 4: for example, GPS has been used as well as object 490 00:29:03,716 --> 00:29:07,276 Speaker 4: locators to help an individual who may be spending time 491 00:29:07,556 --> 00:29:12,196 Speaker 4: alone to be able to find important objects in their house, 492 00:29:12,356 --> 00:29:17,356 Speaker 4: whether that is telephone for example. Technological devices that can 493 00:29:17,396 --> 00:29:21,436 Speaker 4: help with things like administering medication and remembering to take 494 00:29:21,476 --> 00:29:24,676 Speaker 4: one's medication can be really helpful and important. But in 495 00:29:24,676 --> 00:29:28,076 Speaker 4: addition to these more assistive technologies, we can also think 496 00:29:28,156 --> 00:29:33,596 Speaker 4: of technology enabled interventions. So, for example, there's some research 497 00:29:33,636 --> 00:29:38,116 Speaker 4: to suggest that robotic pets can actually serve as a 498 00:29:38,196 --> 00:29:42,116 Speaker 4: really important well being intervention for older adults living with 499 00:29:42,196 --> 00:29:45,916 Speaker 4: dementia to be able to engage in sort of care 500 00:29:45,996 --> 00:29:50,716 Speaker 4: practices with a robotic cat or dog, for example. So 501 00:29:50,916 --> 00:29:53,396 Speaker 4: we can think of technologies both in how they can 502 00:29:53,436 --> 00:29:58,956 Speaker 4: help keep people safe while allowing them to maintain independence 503 00:29:58,956 --> 00:30:01,676 Speaker 4: and autonomy, but we can also think of them as 504 00:30:02,196 --> 00:30:06,436 Speaker 4: ways to intervene and enhance quality of life and the 505 00:30:06,516 --> 00:30:09,196 Speaker 4: opportunities to engage in meaningful activities. 506 00:30:09,596 --> 00:30:11,316 Speaker 2: I think of this so much, you know, after the 507 00:30:11,396 --> 00:30:14,636 Speaker 2: COVID nineteen pandemic, right when you know, I remember that 508 00:30:14,676 --> 00:30:17,316 Speaker 2: time towards the end of twenty twenty, when at least 509 00:30:17,356 --> 00:30:19,956 Speaker 2: to contact my older relatives, you know, who are maybe 510 00:30:20,036 --> 00:30:22,636 Speaker 2: more vulnerable from disease and so on. You know, I 511 00:30:22,676 --> 00:30:24,756 Speaker 2: wasn't able to do that in person, and you know, 512 00:30:24,836 --> 00:30:27,396 Speaker 2: before good technologies to connect, that would mean I wouldn't 513 00:30:27,396 --> 00:30:29,836 Speaker 2: have any social connection with them. But then with these 514 00:30:29,876 --> 00:30:33,196 Speaker 2: technologies you could actually see each other in video conference 515 00:30:33,236 --> 00:30:35,236 Speaker 2: and chat. And I think that that allows for so 516 00:30:35,356 --> 00:30:38,596 Speaker 2: much more intergenerational contact, which can be so critical for 517 00:30:38,636 --> 00:30:41,596 Speaker 2: social connection, especially as we live further away from our 518 00:30:41,596 --> 00:30:44,036 Speaker 2: relatives and so on. Is this the kind of thing 519 00:30:44,076 --> 00:30:46,516 Speaker 2: that you think that technology can be used better for 520 00:30:46,556 --> 00:30:47,196 Speaker 2: in the future. 521 00:30:47,356 --> 00:30:48,156 Speaker 1: Absolutely, so. 522 00:30:48,236 --> 00:30:51,636 Speaker 4: I think technology we've all seen over the past few 523 00:30:51,716 --> 00:30:55,356 Speaker 4: years how technology can help us connect, whether that means 524 00:30:55,716 --> 00:30:59,796 Speaker 4: connecting with our loved ones, whether that means meeting new people, 525 00:31:00,276 --> 00:31:03,756 Speaker 4: or just increasing sort of the frequency of social contact. 526 00:31:03,836 --> 00:31:06,596 Speaker 4: And we know that social contact is so important for 527 00:31:06,716 --> 00:31:09,636 Speaker 4: health and happiness. I think that we still have a 528 00:31:09,676 --> 00:31:13,996 Speaker 4: lot to learn about what types of technology enabled communications 529 00:31:14,076 --> 00:31:17,356 Speaker 4: are best and for whom right so, whether that be 530 00:31:17,596 --> 00:31:22,716 Speaker 4: video chat or telephone communications, but anything that can connect 531 00:31:22,836 --> 00:31:25,836 Speaker 4: us more often with the people that we love is 532 00:31:26,036 --> 00:31:29,716 Speaker 4: likely to be beneficial for health. And happiness, including an 533 00:31:29,716 --> 00:31:31,356 Speaker 4: individuals living with dementia. 534 00:31:31,436 --> 00:31:33,156 Speaker 2: So as we think about all these strategies that we 535 00:31:33,196 --> 00:31:36,076 Speaker 2: can use to maybe prevent dementia and also help individuals 536 00:31:36,116 --> 00:31:38,396 Speaker 2: with dementia live their best lives. Do you have any 537 00:31:38,436 --> 00:31:41,396 Speaker 2: recommendations for people in midlife who are trying to reduce 538 00:31:41,476 --> 00:31:44,276 Speaker 2: their stress and focus on their happiness, but are dealing 539 00:31:44,356 --> 00:31:46,756 Speaker 2: with these age related changes and people that they love. 540 00:31:46,836 --> 00:31:48,076 Speaker 2: You know, are there ways that we can kind of 541 00:31:48,116 --> 00:31:51,076 Speaker 2: protect our stress or best practices for kind of handling 542 00:31:51,116 --> 00:31:53,716 Speaker 2: a dementia diagnosis in an older loved one. 543 00:31:53,836 --> 00:31:57,076 Speaker 4: It can be really challenging when someone that we love 544 00:31:57,356 --> 00:32:01,076 Speaker 4: is diagnosed with dementia, and if we are a care 545 00:32:01,156 --> 00:32:05,316 Speaker 4: partner providing care for an individual living with dementia that 546 00:32:05,356 --> 00:32:08,436 Speaker 4: can also come with its own unique challenges. It can 547 00:32:08,476 --> 00:32:12,156 Speaker 4: be emotional distressing to see these changes in our loved ones. 548 00:32:12,556 --> 00:32:16,516 Speaker 4: And although there can be purpose and joy found in caregiving, 549 00:32:16,636 --> 00:32:21,476 Speaker 4: we also sometimes can see caregiver burnout or stress among 550 00:32:21,636 --> 00:32:25,196 Speaker 4: care partners, and so I think it's really important to 551 00:32:25,956 --> 00:32:29,596 Speaker 4: lean back on your own social support network, whether that 552 00:32:29,876 --> 00:32:32,796 Speaker 4: is other loved ones that you can spend time with 553 00:32:33,076 --> 00:32:37,236 Speaker 4: or that can help with the caregiving aspects, or whether 554 00:32:37,276 --> 00:32:40,276 Speaker 4: that's connecting with new people who have shared a similar 555 00:32:40,356 --> 00:32:43,716 Speaker 4: life experience for that sort of social support and perspective 556 00:32:43,756 --> 00:32:47,196 Speaker 4: from someone else who has been in your shoes. No 557 00:32:47,236 --> 00:32:50,836 Speaker 4: matter what age we are and no matter what difficult 558 00:32:50,876 --> 00:32:56,036 Speaker 4: life experiences we're going through, putting our happiness and placing 559 00:32:56,076 --> 00:32:59,076 Speaker 4: some importance on that and taking time to prioritize our 560 00:32:59,156 --> 00:33:02,196 Speaker 4: self and our well being to be able to manage 561 00:33:02,196 --> 00:33:05,836 Speaker 4: the stressors that we're experiencing is really important, and so 562 00:33:06,076 --> 00:33:10,236 Speaker 4: just empowering yourself to be able to sometimes think about 563 00:33:10,396 --> 00:33:13,316 Speaker 4: what's going to impact your own wellbeing and happiness and 564 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:17,316 Speaker 4: engaging in the activities and self care practices that help 565 00:33:17,396 --> 00:33:19,636 Speaker 4: you to maintain your own mental health. 566 00:33:19,756 --> 00:33:21,676 Speaker 2: I think that's so important because I think we can 567 00:33:21,716 --> 00:33:23,356 Speaker 2: get so caught up in what we can do to 568 00:33:23,476 --> 00:33:27,276 Speaker 2: help our older relatives that we sometimes put ourselves under stress, 569 00:33:27,276 --> 00:33:30,636 Speaker 2: which isn't great for our happiness and our cardiovascular health 570 00:33:30,636 --> 00:33:31,756 Speaker 2: in those kinds of things too. 571 00:33:31,956 --> 00:33:32,756 Speaker 1: Has engaging this. 572 00:33:32,716 --> 00:33:34,916 Speaker 2: Research made you a little bit more hopeful about your 573 00:33:34,916 --> 00:33:37,916 Speaker 2: own cognitive resilience. I'm curious how you've changed your behaviors 574 00:33:37,916 --> 00:33:41,116 Speaker 2: and your mindsets of knowing more about this research. 575 00:33:41,356 --> 00:33:45,116 Speaker 4: I think that it's a really helpful reminder to put 576 00:33:45,156 --> 00:33:49,676 Speaker 4: my social relationships first, to put opportunities to move my 577 00:33:49,756 --> 00:33:54,196 Speaker 4: body first, and to really incorporate that into my daily life. 578 00:33:54,556 --> 00:33:57,956 Speaker 4: Even as someone who researches this stuff, it's really easy 579 00:33:58,436 --> 00:34:01,196 Speaker 4: to get caught up in day to day routines and 580 00:34:01,236 --> 00:34:05,556 Speaker 4: stressors and deadlines and things like that, and so it 581 00:34:05,596 --> 00:34:09,316 Speaker 4: is a nice reminder doing this research that putting my 582 00:34:09,396 --> 00:34:13,116 Speaker 4: well being first is an investment into my future and 583 00:34:13,156 --> 00:34:14,116 Speaker 4: into the future of. 584 00:34:14,036 --> 00:34:14,756 Speaker 1: My loved ones. 585 00:34:16,196 --> 00:34:18,116 Speaker 2: I know many of you listen to this show because 586 00:34:18,116 --> 00:34:20,916 Speaker 2: you want to enhance your daily lives right now. But 587 00:34:20,956 --> 00:34:23,036 Speaker 2: it turns out that following the advice we share on 588 00:34:23,076 --> 00:34:26,156 Speaker 2: this podcast, practices like making friends or being kind to 589 00:34:26,236 --> 00:34:28,916 Speaker 2: others can help you build resilience to a disease that 590 00:34:28,956 --> 00:34:32,916 Speaker 2: could strike many, many decades from now. I find that amazing, 591 00:34:33,236 --> 00:34:35,876 Speaker 2: and it's certainly something I'd never thought about before reading 592 00:34:35,876 --> 00:34:38,956 Speaker 2: Emily's chapter in the World Happiness Report. But we're not 593 00:34:38,996 --> 00:34:42,196 Speaker 2: through with the report's insights just yet. In our next episode, 594 00:34:42,276 --> 00:34:44,836 Speaker 2: we'll turn to a different chapter from the report, one 595 00:34:44,836 --> 00:34:47,236 Speaker 2: that focuses on the other end of the age spectrum. 596 00:34:47,596 --> 00:34:50,756 Speaker 2: We'll tackle the happiness challenges facing the young, and we'll 597 00:34:50,756 --> 00:34:52,796 Speaker 2: try to figure out why children and teens in some 598 00:34:52,876 --> 00:34:55,756 Speaker 2: countries are really struggling and what we can do to 599 00:34:55,796 --> 00:34:58,956 Speaker 2: fix this sad trend. That's next time on the Happiness 600 00:34:58,996 --> 00:35:03,876 Speaker 2: Lab with me, doctor Laurie Santos,