摘要：美国的一项新研究显示，保持乐观情绪有助于降低中风几率。换句话说，情绪越乐观的人，患中风的几率越低。
美国密歇根大学的研究人员7月21日在美国学术刊物《中风》（Stroke）网络版上撰文说，尽管情绪与中风之间不存在直接因果关系，但两者之间的间接联系却非常明显。
研究人员根据2006年至2008年美国健康与退休调查数据，选取分析了6044名50岁以上美国民众的乐观情绪指数和健康状况。乐观情绪指数检测采取的是评分制，最高分为16分。在研究开始时，没有人患中风，但在随后两年的观察中，出现了88个中风病例。
研究发现，调查对象的乐观情绪指数每增加1分，他们患中风的几率降低9%。这一结果不受年龄、性别、慢性疾病等与中风有关的其他因素影响。
研究人员说，保持乐观情绪有助降低中风几率的原因可能有两个：一是情绪乐观的人注意保养身体，例如参加体育锻炼、注重科学膳食；二是乐观情绪会提高人的免疫机能，而心情郁闷会降低人的免疫机能。
芬兰科研人员在此前的一项研究中也发现，情绪悲观的人更容易患中风。而上述新研究从乐观角度证实了情绪与中风之间的关联。
相关英文论文摘要：
Dispositional Optimism Protects Older Adults From Stroke
Background and Purpose—Although higher optimism has been linked to an array of positive health outcomes, the association between optimism and incidence of stroke remains unclear, especially among older adults. We examined whether higher optimism was associated with a lower incidence of stroke.
Method—Prospective data from the Health and Retirement Study—a nationally representative panel study of American adults aged >50 years—were used. Analyses were conducted for a 2-year follow-up on the subset of 6044 adults (2542 men, 3502 women) who were stroke-free at baseline. Analyses adjusted for chronic illnesses, self-rated health, and relevant sociodemographic, behavioral, biological, and psychological factors.
Results—Higher optimism was associated with a lower risk of stroke. On an optimism measure ranging from 3 to 18, each unit increase in optimism was associated with an age-adjusted OR of 0.90 for stroke (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.97; P<0.01). The effect of optimism remained significant even after fully adjusting for a comprehensive set of sociodemographic, behavioral, biological, and psychological stroke risk factors.
Conclusions—Optimism may play an important role in protecting against stroke among older adults.
Key Words: epidemiology , optimism, psych & behavior, public health, stroke
