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The Association between Happiness and Cognitive Function in the UK Biobank
Xianghe Zhu1,2,3, Martina Luchetti1, Damaris Aschwanden1
1College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
Current Psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)
|March 21, 2024
Summary
Greater happiness correlates with better cognitive speed and memory, but not reasoning. This study found no link between happiness and the rate of cognitive decline over ten years.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Happiness is linked to enhanced creative and flexible thinking.
- The relationship between happiness and basic cognitive functions, as well as cognitive decline, is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between happiness and cognitive performance (speed of processing, visuospatial memory, reasoning).
- To examine if happiness predicts the rate of cognitive decline over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a large UK Biobank sample (N=17,885, aged 40-70).
- Assessed baseline happiness and cognitive functions across four waves over a 10-year follow-up period.
- Analyzed associations independent of vascular and depression risk factors.
Main Results:
- Higher happiness was linked to better performance in speed of processing and visuospatial memory.
- Happiness was associated with worse reasoning performance.
- No significant association was found between happiness and the rate of cognitive change over time.
Conclusions:
- The cognitive benefits of happiness may apply to basic functions like speed and memory, but not complex reasoning.
- Happiness does not appear to predict the rate of cognitive decline over a decade.
- Further research is needed to explore the link between psychological well-being and diverse cognitive functions for potential interventions.
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