Chris:
Actually the article does make that claim.
"Dr Lupien believes that if those with a negative mind set were taught to change the way they think they could reverse their mental decline."
An astounding claim!
Ken
Ken Steele wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3224674.stm
Or, those with smaller brains have lower self-esteem. It is impossible to tell from the way the article is written (typical of the popular press reporting on science). The article says the researchers followed the subjects (excuse me, "participants") for 15 years, but it does not say that the brains of those with lower self-esteem shrank more during that time than did the brains of those with higher self-esteem (though even if it did, cause and effect would still not be completely clear). It only says that "the brains of those with low self-worth were up to a fifth smaller than those who felt good about themselves." From that it is impossible to tell what caused what. Since they were all senior citizens, it might well be that people who go into general health decline earlier, not surprisingly, suffer from both lowering of self-esteem and an increased shrinkage of the brain.
Regards,
--
--------------------------------------------------------------- Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Department of Psychology http://www.psych.appstate.edu Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 USA ---------------------------------------------------------------
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