Nun Study Essay

In class we watched a video about the Nun study, in which researchers study a group of sisters living in the Notre Dame convent in terms of aging. The study started as as one on Alzheimer’s disease, but instead researchers found the key to successful aging as demonstrated by the sisters. Researchers determined that the nuns of the Notre Dame convent were aging better than many elders, they concluded this after the researchers found that although each of the study sisters held the brain functions of one having Alzheimer’s they showed no psychical symptoms of it, such as memory loss. This researcher’s argued was due to a number of factors within the nun’s lives. The factors range from the activity of each of the tested sister’s, to the strong supportive community, to the strong faith that the sister’s held, that led to the pause on the the outward appearance of Alzheimer’s disease.

I found this particular study to be very intriguing, the idea that disease can be placed on hold through an active lifestyle. The class given definition of successful living is that it

Many researches in the past have drawn a connection between religion and successful aging, but I personally believe that this connection is important due to the purpose church and faith give to individuals. In my opinion it is the purpose people find in believing in a higher being that cause them to become active mentally. It also gives them the needed supportive surrounding community. As elderly they gain friends of a shared faith going through similar changes as them and young adults who in many cases are willing to help them out and visit with them. In some many ways I view the religious involvement of the Nun’s as a main factor for the pause on Alzheimer’s they