A good mood may mean more brain power in older adults
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013 08:51 AM

Although it may be hard some days, adults should try to stay positive, as new research shows that those who maintain a good mood could have healthier brains.

In a study that appears in the journal "Cognition and Emotion," researchers from multiple institutions worked with 46 adults between the ages of 63 and 85. Half of these participants were given a thank-you card and two small bags of candy, while the other half received nothing at all. These individuals then had their working memory and decision-making skills tested.

The researchers arrived at very clear results - older adults who were in a good mood performed better than those who had a neutral mood.

"There has been lots of research showing that younger adults are more creative and cognitively flexible when they are in a good mood," said Ellen Peters, the study''s co-author and a professor of psychology at Ohio State University. "But because of the cognitive declines that come with aging, we weren''t sure that a good mood would be able to help older adults."

No matter what mood people tend to be in, they can see how their outlook on life affects their cognitive abilities by taking an IQ test.