Happy older people may live longer: Study

Happiness can prolong life in older adults, say scientists including one of Indian origin.The study, published in the journal Age and Ageing, used data for 4,478 participants of a survey to look at the association between happiness, assessed in the

National News: Happiness can prolong life in older adults, say scientists including one of Indian origin.

The study, published in the journal Age and Ageing, used data for 4,478 participants of a survey to look at the association between happiness, assessed in the year 2009, and subsequent likelihood of dying due to any cause, until December 31, 2015.

"The findings indicate that even small increments in happiness may be beneficial to older people's longevity," said Rahul Malhotra, assistant professor at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.

"Therefore individual-level activities as well as government policies and programmes that maintain or improve happiness or psychological well-being may contribute to a longer life among older people," said Malhotra.

The survey was focused on individuals' aged 60 years and older living in Singapore.