Is there really happy aging? Not all senior citizens are happy.
Are our moods and emotions based on biological genes?
Maybe. I was never a happy child and on reaching adulthood, I was not a happy adult either. For many years, I was a depressed person. I had frequent thoughts of dying. Of death. Death was like a constant companion.
I can't help it. It's like my brain was telling me to be depressed.
Some research has shown that depression is caused by some chemical imbalance in the brain.
How true is that? But depression could be due to a variety of factors. There are biological factors (including a degree of genetic vulnerability and biochemical factors), psychological factors (such as your own personal coping style and temperament), and social factors (your family atmosphere and presence of a support network).
Presently, I am in a neutral state of relative peace. And I definitely hope my genetics make-up can enable me so that I can age happily.
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New Paper
24 Aug 2008
Study on what makes 'happy' aging
HE wants to study how well people age and find out what makes some of them more resilient and 'happier', with fewer mental problems such as depression.
To do that, he will now look at children, and adults in their 50s, to find out who are the ones at risk of not coping well with life.
Professor Kua Ee Heok, a senior consultant from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the National University Hospital and National University of Singapore (NUS), will be embarking on his third and most ambitious study of aging at the end of the year.
Said Prof Kua: 'Who are the children who will be at risk during PSLE, who can't cope? Who are the boys who can't cope with national service? What are the factors that count towards building up resilience?
'To find out in my study, we will include biological markers. That means testing for genetic markers.'
That is why this study, which he estimates will take about five years, will be the most comprehensive and expensive one so far. And he is off to a good start.
A happy, elderly person who read his book, Dignity and Grace of Ageing, was so impressed that he donated $250,000 to the NUS Department of Psychological Medicine, for research.
Prof Kua said he needs about $3 million and so far he has about $500,000.
Said the donor, who wished to remain anonymous: 'I was impressed and inspired by the war stories of the elderly in Singapore (in Prof Kua's book) and hope the donation will contribute to the NUS research on 'ageing well'.'
Prof Kua's earlier two studies related to ageing in Singapore. The first, involving samsui women, was on 1,000 people living in the Chinatown area in 1987-1990, mostly in one-room flats. The second was on 1,500 people living in Toa Payoh in 2000-2003.
The elderly in Toa Payoh lived mostly in three-room HDB flats, and 40 per cent said physical comforts such as a car made them happy.
Prof Kua said, comparing the two groups: 'Those who were more well-off tended to be more isolated than those who were not so well-off.' In his study of the Toa Payoh group, he found a higher incidence of dementia and depression.
Things have been improving for the elderly,due in part to more awareness of their needs. Previously, we did not have day centres for the elderly, fewer support groups. No Sage telephone helpline. Now, they have all that and and we are improving elderly health service in primary care,' said Prof Kua.
Are our moods and emotions based on biological genes?
Maybe. I was never a happy child and on reaching adulthood, I was not a happy adult either. For many years, I was a depressed person. I had frequent thoughts of dying. Of death. Death was like a constant companion.
I can't help it. It's like my brain was telling me to be depressed.
Some research has shown that depression is caused by some chemical imbalance in the brain.
How true is that? But depression could be due to a variety of factors. There are biological factors (including a degree of genetic vulnerability and biochemical factors), psychological factors (such as your own personal coping style and temperament), and social factors (your family atmosphere and presence of a support network).
Presently, I am in a neutral state of relative peace. And I definitely hope my genetics make-up can enable me so that I can age happily.
--------------------------
New Paper
24 Aug 2008
Study on what makes 'happy' aging
HE wants to study how well people age and find out what makes some of them more resilient and 'happier', with fewer mental problems such as depression.
To do that, he will now look at children, and adults in their 50s, to find out who are the ones at risk of not coping well with life.
Professor Kua Ee Heok, a senior consultant from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the National University Hospital and National University of Singapore (NUS), will be embarking on his third and most ambitious study of aging at the end of the year.
Said Prof Kua: 'Who are the children who will be at risk during PSLE, who can't cope? Who are the boys who can't cope with national service? What are the factors that count towards building up resilience?
'To find out in my study, we will include biological markers. That means testing for genetic markers.'
That is why this study, which he estimates will take about five years, will be the most comprehensive and expensive one so far. And he is off to a good start.
A happy, elderly person who read his book, Dignity and Grace of Ageing, was so impressed that he donated $250,000 to the NUS Department of Psychological Medicine, for research.
Prof Kua said he needs about $3 million and so far he has about $500,000.
Said the donor, who wished to remain anonymous: 'I was impressed and inspired by the war stories of the elderly in Singapore (in Prof Kua's book) and hope the donation will contribute to the NUS research on 'ageing well'.'
Prof Kua's earlier two studies related to ageing in Singapore. The first, involving samsui women, was on 1,000 people living in the Chinatown area in 1987-1990, mostly in one-room flats. The second was on 1,500 people living in Toa Payoh in 2000-2003.
The elderly in Toa Payoh lived mostly in three-room HDB flats, and 40 per cent said physical comforts such as a car made them happy.
Prof Kua said, comparing the two groups: 'Those who were more well-off tended to be more isolated than those who were not so well-off.' In his study of the Toa Payoh group, he found a higher incidence of dementia and depression.
Things have been improving for the elderly,due in part to more awareness of their needs. Previously, we did not have day centres for the elderly, fewer support groups. No Sage telephone helpline. Now, they have all that and and we are improving elderly health service in primary care,' said Prof Kua.
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