What does “getting old” mean to you? What are your beliefs about aging? When you hear the word “elderly”, what images come to mind? These are the types of questions that trigger discomfort—often prompting a change of topic or a quick swig of wine. Although it may not be polite dinnertime conversation, perhaps we should be asking ourselves these questions more frequently. New research by the Yale School of Public Health suggests we should. Their recent study shows how negative beliefs about aging can cause changes in our brain that may increase vulnerability to dementia.

Study participants who held more negative beliefs about aging exhibited a larger decline in the volume of their hippocampus, the area in the brain which governs memory. Two other signs of dementia, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, also appeared more pronounced among those with negative views regarding aging. The overall findings concluded that the stresses produced by these views were causing the damaging changes to the brain.

The Yale study highlights the importance of being aware of what we believe about the journey of getting old. Every year we blow out the candles on another birthday cake, but few of us actually take the time to reflect on our attitudes towards aging. The aches and pains of aging are not necessarily an easy process, but we must remind ourselves that, in many ways, we are what we believe. Our beliefs shape our thoughts, our words, our actions, and yes, even our brains.