Be kind, it does you good. Because, if it is true that our DNA is mostly immutable, there are some areas, called telomeres (the indicators of cellular aging and, by extension, of how much we have left to live) that are strongly influenced by our lifestyle. . But be careful: the length of telomeres varies from individual to individual and those of women and Africans are on average longer. And while it is now obvious that practices such as not smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising and practicing meditation protect telomeres, improving overall health and longevity, less obvious is the discovery of the positive effects of kindness and optimism.
«By analyzing the DNA – explains Harvard professor Immacolata De Vivo, who will be at KUM on 17 October! Ancona Festival – we have seen that kind people, those who forgive others and express gratitude, have longer telomeres ». The scientific explanation is simpler than you might think: positive attitudes counteract inflammation and oxidative stress that further shorten telomeres and accelerate the onset of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and even Alzheimer’s. So long for optimism, as De Vivo explains in the essay (Mondadori) written with Daniel Lumera, «Biology of kindness».
«Our book highlights through scientific studies the benefits of being lovable – in all its manifestations: altruism, compassion, empathy, generosity – in relation to various pathologies. In cancer patients, for example, responses to treatment improve. Kindness can also help in case of phobic anxiety and above all prevent cardiovascular diseases, lowering hypertension and keeping stress levels under control, especially in stroke risk patients ».
It is therefore urgent to train yourself to be kind. “Yes, it can start as a child, but it’s never too late to learn kindness, which comes in many forms. Basically, for me, it’s taking care of others with both words and deeds. Even a simple smile is enough. Conversely, emotions such as anxiety, anger, fear activate stress and are particularly harmful if they become chronic. Forgiveness has the greatest potential of all to activate positive effects. In our studies we have seen that it can be associated with a decrease in depression, anxiety, hostility, addiction and even pain ».
At one point De Vivo’s research also involved two astronauts, monozygotic and biologically identical twins, Scott and Mark Kelly: one remained on Earth, the other in orbit. «What I can say on the basis of my extraordinary opportunity to work with colleagues at NASA is that humans are not ready to live in space for long, because this requires enormous strain on the organism and has a strong impact on health. One of the most surprising results was, in fact, the effect on telomeres. The astronaut lengthened his telomeres while he was in space, but after returning to Earth they shortened again ».
In short, even optimism can do little in space. But even here, on planet Earth, lately the benefits of positive thinking at all costs are increasingly questioned and, in some cases, would lead to a loss of objectivity and even to the risk of a gradual departure from reality. «One of my mottos is: everything in moderation. A famous person once said that even a mother’s love can be lethal. In short, the dose determines the poison. Positive psychology has been shown to increase indicators such as blood pressure, emotional well-being, healthy behaviors. Like everything, positive psychology shouldn’t be too much to distort reality ». Kindness and moderation, the perfect recipe.
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