Positive Emotion Bias In Aging May Signal Cognitive Decline

As group age, they show a bias successful recognizing emotions arsenic positive-to nan constituent of improperly labeling neutral aliases antagonistic emotions arsenic positive. Some researchers theorize this bias is an adaptive system to support intelligence and affectional wellness, but caller grounds suggests it whitethorn beryllium a motion of cognitive decline. In a caller JNeurosci paper, Noham Wolpe, from Tel Aviv University, and colleagues, from nan University of Cambridge, beforehand knowing connected what this affirmative emotion bias that elders grounds signifies astir their brains' health. 

A ample excavation of participants (665) viewed faces successful an emotion nickname task. Age-related positivity bias correlated pinch poorer cognitive capacity successful 2 assessments, but not needfully affectional diminution arsenic measured by examining nonclinical depressive symptoms. The researchers besides observed structural changes successful encephalon areas associated pinch affectional processing and changes successful really these areas pass to different encephalon region progressive successful societal decisions. Thus, positivity bias from aging impacts nan encephalon successful observable ways that could beryllium leveraged clinically to observe early rising signs of age-related neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. 

Says Wolpe of nan group's adjacent steps, "We are exploring really these findings subordinate to older adults pinch early cognitive decline, peculiarly those showing signs of apathy, which is often different early motion of dementia."