This is a photo of a famous swim hole in Upolu, Samoa, called the To Sua Ocean Trench. It’s a spectacular, 30-meter-deep natural sinkhole filled with clear water and surrounded by lush gardens. I had the most awesome swim here a few Christmases ago.
I was excited to see a lot of people wanting to know more about how awe affects our brain and body, so here is a deeper dive based on the questions I was asked as background for the online article in Curtin University’s Western Independent magazine. If you didn’t read last week’s Health-e-Byte, you can access it here.
Q1: Can you elaborate on how activating the emotional experience of ‘awe’ can be a method to prevent dementia and cognitive decline?
A: Activating awe may prevent dementia by quieting negative self-talk, promoting healthier brain networks involved in attention and self-perception, strengthening a sense of connection with others (reducing feelings of loneliness), and lowering production of the stress hormone, cortisol. Studies have found that when older adults take a daily ‘awe walk’ (which encourages them to pay attention to details, colours and the beauty around them) they experience greater joy and less distress, not only during the walk but also for the rest of the day.
One of the mechanisms by which awe improves cognition is by reducing activity in a region of the brain known as the Default Mode Network (DFN). The corollary of this is to lower negative rumination which is detrimental to the functioning of the brain.
In addition, awe enhances activity in a part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which increases focus and motivation, helping people allocate mental resources to achieving their goals.
Q2: Dementia was recently established as the number one cause of death in Australia. What do you hope to see for the future of dementia prevention research and public awareness efforts?
I don’t believe we need more research; we need to implement the brain-boosting and dementia-prevention strategies that have already been identified but not communicated to the public. We mustn’t let what we don’tknow, stop us from acting on what we do know. There needs to be a consistent broad-reaching awareness campaign that excites people to become proactive about their brain health. Everyone has jumped on the gut health bandwagon (which is also important) but few people have brain health on their radar. There is a misconception that mental decline with age is inevitable, and most people have no idea that they can live in a way that enables them to stay as sharp at age 90 as they were at age 30. The 2024 Lancet Commission Report identified 14 modifiable factors that could almost halve the number of people diagnosed with dementia worldwide. These include the things I listed in my ADVENTURES acronym as well as maintaining a healthy blood pressure, getting hearing aids (if needed) and removing cataracts if sight becomes compromised.
Instead of emphasising that dementia is the number one cause of death in Australia, we need to focus on the fact that our brain is eminently responsive to the way we live our lives. Our brain remains plastic to our very last days, and it’s never too early or too late to improve our brain function. Best of all, an active, joyful, meaningful, socially-connected life is the key to an optimally functioning brain. Hence, adventure prevents dementia!
Q3: Please add any final sentiments or key statements about awe as a cognitive behavioural therapy model or tool for preventing dementia and cognitive decline.
My key sentiments about awe as a CBT tool for preventing cognitive decline include the following:
- Awe stimulates cognitive flexibility ie it encourages openness to new perspectives which can help preserve executive functioning (higher order thinking like planning, decision-making, problem solving).
- Awe makes people feel more generous, and increases their motivation to engage in volunteering. Research has shown that volunteer work reduces cognitive decline.
- Awe reduces chronic stress and depression, both of which are major risk factors for dementia.
- People can be taught to incorporate awe into their daily lives by asking them to take a mindful walk in nature, observe the stars in the night sky, sit quietly and look at a flower, visit an art gallery or museum, or listen to a moving piece of music. Awe is a simple cost-free tool that people need to be made aware of to boost their physical and mental wellbeing in unexpected and powerful ways.
Please share this Health-e-Byte with anyone who hasn’t experienced awe recently.
