Dubious statistical reasoning can be found in surprising places. The
Harvard Men's Health Watch, whose editorial board includes many
distinguished physicians - most of them Harvard Med school faculty,
recently published a short piece called "Negative views of aging linked
with increased risk of Alzheimer's." The article cites a study that
apparently found an association between subjects' negative views of
aging and physical brain changes such as beta-amyloid plaques. The piece
ends: "It is still unclear if certain thoughts can induce brain changes,
but these results suggest a path for future prevention treatments." Far
more likely is the possibility that any causal relationship goes in the
opposite direction: those with early Alzheimer's sense their own mental
decline, which negatively affects their attitude toward aging. Positive
thinking has benefits but prevention of brain changes like
neurofibrillary plaques is unlikely to be among them.
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Malcolm Sherman
University at Albany
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