The Importance of New Year's Resolutions for Older Adults

Making resolutions appears to make older people less susceptible to developing cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's, according to U.S. News & World Report . A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated that older adults with a solid sense of purpose tend to retain strong hand grips and walking speeds, which are signs of the rapidity of aging. Meanwhile, a Columbia University study indicated that enthusiastic and content persons are less prone to heart disease, while a Swedish study observed that social people who maintain calm are 50 percent less likely to develop dementia. Among resolution-strengthening options for older adults are making mutual resolutions with loved ones that can be realized through collaboration, like composing family trees. Setting up a medical appointment at the start of the year also is beneficial, as is getting a flu shot. Finally, acting on resolutions about diet and exercise grows in value as people get older.