Happiness, Alzheimer’s and living longer – the famous Nun Study

Happiness, Alzheimer’s and living longer – the famous Nun Study

The “Nun Study” as it’s often known is one of the most famous positive psychology research projects. In short, it explores the links between positive expression of emotions and/or happiness and longevity and Alzheimer’s Disease. Basically, it found that…

…apositive outlook on life and happiness may not only help you live longer and prevent you from having a disease, but if you do have the disease you may not be as affected by it as your less optimistic and less cheerful counterparts.

If you’d like to read a more thorough but very readable summary of this research then keep going…

By Daniel Tomasulo for PsychCentral




Four features formed the study_ã_s foundation.


Because temperament seems to have great consistency over the lifespan, the nun study looked at the degree to which a positive or negative approach to life would affect lifelong physical health. Since the nuns_ã_ living conditions, histories and environmental factors were _ã–controlled_ã by their life choice, the impact of their emotional disposition would help determine their longevity.




Read the full and original story HERE