Cynics More at Risk for Dementia A study in Neurology, the journal of the of the American Academy of Neurology, found that cynical people have a higher likelihood of developing dementia. The study tested 1,449 people with an average age of 71. The study participants took a test for dementia. A separate test measured their level of cynicism. The cynicism test asks if the person agrees with statements like “Most people will use somewhat unfair reasons to gain profit or an advantage rather than lose it”; “I think most people would lie to get ahead”; and “It is safer to trust nobody.” Those who agreed with the critical statements in the test were considered highly cynical. The people with the highest level of cynical distrust had a 2.54 times greater risk of dementia than those with the lowest cynicism rating. Speaking to CNN, Dr. Hilary Tindle, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh said, “This is a complex issue that needs to be studied more. The relationships between psychological attitudes and health outcomes are very complex.” Tindle was the lead author on a study that examined the health outcomes of over 97,000 women and found that cynical women had a higher hazard of cancer-related mortality. Research shows cynical people also tend to smoke more, exercise less and weigh more. They also have a harder time following even the best medical advice, because their cynical natures won’t let them believe what people tell them, Tindle said. I don’t believe this crap!