People who believe they have a goal in life are 22% less likely to be victims of a stroke, according to a new study.
Scientists still cannot accurately explain this pattern, but the fact remains: people who have defined clear tasks for themselves for the future are much less likely to suffer from clots in the vessels of the brain. Either goals and plans for the future contribute to the fact that an elderly person considers it necessary to keep up with a healthy lifestyle, or positive thoughts about the future in themselves produce such a striking effect.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a specific area of the brain stops due to the fact that a blood clot blocks a vessel in the brain. Oxygen does not enter the brain, as a result of which the brain cells die, and a person's eyesight deteriorates sharply, speech is lost, coordination of movements is impaired, memory suffers. The patient can be paralyzed.
Experts from the University of Michigan examined 6,739 men and women older than 50 years. To find out if the participants in the experiment have goals in life, they were asked to answer the questionnaire.
If a person believes that his life makes sense, if he has plans for the future, his risk of stroke is reduced by 22% compared with those who lack commitment. This allowed the authors of the study to conclude: among older people, a larger goal in life is associated with a lower risk of stroke.
