One of the most notable studies on optimism and longevity was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2019.

Researchers followed two large groups: women from the Nurses' Health Study and men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Higher levels of optimism were associated with longer lifespan in both groups and with a greater likelihood of reaching age 85 or older.

The relationship remained even after researchers accounted for factors including socioeconomic status, health conditions, depression, social integration, and health behaviours.

The findings have since been explored in a much larger and more diverse group.

A 2022 study involving 159,255 women from the Women's Health Initiative found that women in the highest optimism group had an estimated 5.4% longer lifespan than those in the lowest group after statistical adjustment. Higher optimism was also associated with a greater likelihood of reaching age 90.

Researchers observed the overall association across racial and ethnic groups, although estimates varied and were less precise in some subgroups.

That's fascinating.

But there is an important distinction to make.

These studies show an association. They do not prove that optimism itself causes someone to live longer. Longevity is influenced by an enormous combination of biological, environmental, social, behavioural, and economic factors.

Healthy optimism isn't about ignoring illness, grief, disability, or the realities that can accompany aging.

Someone can acknowledge that something is difficult while still believing there are experiences worth pursuing, problems worth solving, relationships worth maintaining, and things in the future worth looking forward to.

That distinction becomes especially important in later life.

Aging can bring genuine losses and transitions: retirement, changes in health, the death of people we love, reduced mobility, giving up driving, changes in cognition, or needing more assistance than we once did.

Living well doesn't require pretending those things aren't happening.

That question is at the heart of our Living Well Framework.

Researchers are still working to understand the mechanisms behind the relationship.

One possibility is behaviour.

People who expect that their actions can contribute to a better future may be more inclined to continue investing in that future — exercising, maintaining relationships, pursuing goals, following health recommendations, or remaining involved in activities that matter to them.

Interestingly, the 2022 Women's Health Initiative study examined lifestyle factors as one possible pathway. Lifestyle explained some, but not most, of the observed relationship between optimism and lifespan, suggesting the connection is probably more complex than simply optimistic people having healthier habits.

There may be many interacting pathways involving behaviour, psychological well-being, social connection, and how people respond to stress.

We don't yet have all of the answers.

But it gives us another reason to think about healthy aging as something much broader than the absence of disease.

One of the things I find most compelling about this research is how closely it connects with the philosophy behind Therapeutic Recreation.

Therapeutic Recreation isn't about telling someone to “be more positive.”

Instead, we can help create the conditions that give someone reasons to remain engaged with life.

There is research supporting the broader value of leisure engagement as well.

A prospective study of 19,821 middle-aged and older adults across 15 countries examined several mind-stimulating leisure activities over six years. Different forms of leisure participation were associated with outcomes including greater happiness and optimism, lower loneliness, fewer depressive symptoms, better functioning, and, for some activities, lower mortality or cognitive impairment.

Because this was observational research, it cannot establish that the activities themselves caused those outcomes, but it supports the idea that meaningful leisure can be an important health and well-being resource.

A separate meta-analysis of 15 studies of therapeutic recreation programs for older adults found an overall moderate positive effect, with outcomes spanning social-emotional, physical, and cognitive domains.

The evidence came from studies conducted in Korea, so it should not automatically be generalized to every older adult or every Therapeutic Recreation program, but it adds to the evidence supporting recreation as more than entertainment.

Imagine an older adult whose world has gradually become smaller.

They've stopped driving. Walking is more difficult. Their spouse has died. They don't see friends as often. Their children handle their groceries and appointments. Most days are spent at home watching television.

Their physical needs might technically be met.

But what are they looking forward to?

Now imagine their week begins to contain things that belong to them again.

Those may sound like small things.

They aren't.

They create anticipation.

This is one reason individualized Therapeutic Recreation is an important part of our Living Well Framework at Best Life.

We aren't interested in keeping someone “busy” for two hours.

We want to understand what this person used to love. What still brings them joy? What roles have been important throughout their life? What abilities do they want to maintain? What have they stopped doing because it became difficult?

And importantly:

For one person, that might be gardening. For another, it might be music, baking, going to a hockey game, visiting a favourite neighbourhood, painting, playing cards, volunteering, shopping, exercising, or simply getting out for coffee and conversation.

The activity itself isn't the entire point.

The meaning behind it is.

Our Living Well Framework is built around the idea that aging support shouldn't begin and end with identifying someone's limitations.

Of course we need to understand risk. We need to think about falls, nutrition, medications, mobility, cognition, personal care, and safety.

But we also need to understand what someone is living for.

That is why Best Life brings together services such as Therapeutic Recreation, seniors fitness, home support, and concierge oversight rather than looking at each need in isolation.

Fitness might help someone maintain the strength required to keep gardening.

Home support might make it possible to remain in the house they love.

Therapeutic Recreation might help them reconnect with activities and relationships that give their week meaning.

Concierge oversight can help make sure those pieces continue working together as circumstances change.

The research on optimism and longevity doesn't give us a formula for living to 90.

And it certainly shouldn't be interpreted to mean that people experiencing illness or hardship simply need to “think positively.”

What it does give us is another reason to take psychological well-being seriously as part of healthy aging.

Maybe optimism isn't only something someone has.

Perhaps, to some extent, it can also be supported by continuing to create opportunities for purpose, choice, accomplishment, connection, enjoyment, and anticipation.

A reason to get moving. A person you're excited to see. Something you're working toward. A place you're planning to go. An activity that still feels like you.