This is the 89th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope

A recent study published by researchers at Harvard University found that people with higher optimism scores were less likely to develop dementia.

The cheerfully named study – “The Bright Side of Life: Optimism and Risk of Dementia” – followed 9,000 older adults over 14 years from 2006 to 2020, conducting assessments every four years.

Researchers found that a higher level of optimism – roughly the jump from an average outlook to a notably positive one – was linked to a 15 per cent lower risk of dementia.

Optimism is defined as the ability or inclination to put a positive spin on actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.

Someone who is optimistic is often referred to as a “glass half-full” person, as opposed to being “glass half-empty”. Being optimistic is usually accompanied by a “can-do” attitude, which is valuable as we get older.