top of page
SeniorSparq logo

RESEARCH

Explore the latest research on senior wellness, caregiving, and aging. Browse our curated collection of articles, whitepapers, and resources to stay informed and empowered. By sharing knowledge and expertise, we aim to enhance the lives of seniors and those who care for them.

PILLARS

KEY POINTS

REFERENCES

Mindset
Mindset

  • Purpose​ 

  • Optimism / Gratitude

  • Intellectual Stimulation

  • Spirituality

  • Research shows that having a sense of meaning or purpose in daily life is associated with better sleep, healthier weight, higher activity levels and lower inflammation. (2)

  • Studies show that having a strong sense of purpose protects us from stress in the short term and predicts long-term better health, a lower risk of dying prematurely (3) and even better financial health(4)

  • Optimists tend to live on average 11 to 15 percent longer than pessimists and have an excellent chance of achieving “exceptional longevity.” (5)

(1)Medina, J. (2021). Brain rules for aging well: 10 principles for staying vital, happy, and sharp. Pear Press.
(2)Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). Healthy longevity. The Nutrition Source. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-longevity/
(3)Hill, P. L., & Turiano, N. A. (2014). Purpose in Life as a Predictor of Mortality Across Adulthood. Psychological Science, 25(7), 1482-1486. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614531799
(4) Hill, P. L., Turiano, N. A., Mroczek, D. K., & Burrow, A. L. (2016). The value of a purposeful life: Sense of purpose predicts greater income and net worth. Journal of Research in Personality, 65, 38-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2016.07.003
(5) De Vivo, I (2022, March 15). The new science of optimism and longevity. MIT Press Reader. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-new-science-of-optimism-and-longevity/

Meaningful Connections_edited_edited_edited.png
Meaningful Connections

  • Family and friends

  • Mentoring​ 

  • Volunteering

  • Pets and animals ​ 

  • Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, followed 1,600 participants (average age: 71) and found that those who reported loneliness were more likely to develop difficulties with activities of daily living. Even when the study controlled for socioeconomic status and health, the lonely had higher mortality: Nearly 23 percent died within six years, compared with 14 percent of those who weren’t lonely.(2)

  • Loneliness brings its own dangers; studies have shown associations with higher blood pressure, with nursing home admissions, and with dementia. (4)

  • Loneliness and social insolation are associated with higher risk of disease, disability, and mortality.  Those who experienced consistent loneliness had a 57% increased risk of early death. (1)

(1)Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). Healthy longevity. The Nutrition Source. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-longevity/
(2) Perissinotto CM, Stijacic Cenzer I, Covinsky KE. Loneliness in Older Persons: A Predictor of Functional Decline and Death. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(14):1078–1084. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1993
(3) Hawkley, L. C., Thisted, R. A., Masi, C. M., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 25(1), 132–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017805

Movement
Natural Movement

  • Enjoyable, frequent activity​ 

  • Walking​ 

  • Gardening​ 

  • Balance / Strength Training

  • People with higher activity levels and physiological fitness have a lower mortality risk; for those who were relatively sedentary through middle age, it is never too late because beginning a new exercise regimen in old age leads to significant improvements to health and cognition. Physical activity reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disease through better control of blood pressure, cholesterol and waist circumference; Should a fall occur, people who exercise regularly (particularly weight bearing activities that include higher impacts) are less likely to suffer a bone fracture because their bones are stronger and have higher bone mineral density. (1)

(4) Wilson RS, Krueger KR, Arnold SE, et al. Loneliness and Risk of Alzheimer Disease. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(2):234–240. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.64.2.234 
(5) Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach. Kim, Eric S. et al.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 59, Issue 2, 176 - 186

1.png
Mindful Eating

  • Mostly plants (vegetables and fruits)

  • Fiber rich foods such as beans

  • Studies show that people who eat a Mediterranean diet (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, nuts, and olive oil) are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease or have a stroke. It also contributes to increased executive function and working memory. (1)

(1)McPhee, J. S., French, D. P., Jackson, D., Nazroo, J., Pendleton, N., & Degens, H. (2016). Physical activity in older age: perspectives for healthy ageing and frailty. Biogerontology, 17(3), 567–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-016-9641-0

bottom of page