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Well-being Might Be Important To Memory

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 20, 2025.

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 — Caring for your emotional health might also help keep your memory sharp, a new study says.

People with higher levels of well-being have a reduced risk of memory loss in middle age, according to a new study published June 19 in the journal Aging & Mental Health.

Folks who say they have more well-being are more likely to score better on memory tests, researchers found.

They also report a greater sense of control, independence and freedom to make choices, researchers noted.

“This study represents an important step toward understanding the interplay between well-being and memory over time,” senior researcher Joshua Stott, a professor of aging and clinical psychology at University College London in the U.K., said in a news release.

For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 10,000 people 50 and older taking part in a long-term study on aging in England.

Participants were assessed on memory and well-being every two years, a total of nine times during the 16-year study period stretching back to 2002.

Well-being is defined as emotional health combined with the ability to function effectively, researchers said in background notes. Happiness, confidence, a sense of purpose and a feeling of control over one’s life are all linked to well-being.

Participants’ memory was tested by asking them to recall 10 words immediately and after a delay.

Results showed a small but significant association between higher levels of well-being and better memory, with the impact significant even after adjusting for mood disorders like depression.

The study can’t prove a cause-and-effect link between well-being and memory, but “our findings are important in proposing that good well-being predates better memory rather than vice versa,” lead researcher Amber John, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Liverpool in the U.K., said in a news release.

“This suggests that the link between well-being and memory is not just because people with poor memory have poor well-being and that, if causality is demonstrated, improving well-being could protect against subsequent memory decline,” John added.

Established health and lifestyle risk factors for dementia include many linked to well-being, including lack of physical exercise, social isolation and depression, Emma Taylor, information services manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said in a news release.

“This study found that people over 50 who reported they felt happier and more fulfilled in life had a better memory over time,” said Taylor, who was not involved in the research. “However, this research is observational – and more work is needed to understand how a positive well-being and memory are connected and whether this has a knock-on effect on dementia risk.”

She said looking after mental well-being plays an important part in overall health.

"And," Taylor added, "It’s never too late to start taking steps to keep our brains healthy throughout our lives and lessen the devastating impact of dementia.”

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted June 2025

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