South Park/Giphy
There are plenty of reasons that experts say it’s beneficial to maintain a healthy sex life, but researchers now say that failure to achieve satisfaction in the bedroom might also have detrimental cognitive consequences down the road.
What the statistics show
According to a new Penn State study, there appears to be a clear connection between erectile dysfunction and memory loss among men in their 50s and 60s. Those who reported a significant decline in sexual satisfaction were statistically more likely to experience cognitive issues later in life.
The research was published in the Gerontologist journal and, according to co-author Martin Sliwinski, it was based on evidence gathered at consistent intervals in order to establish a reliable correlation between the two factors.
“What we found connects to what scientists are beginning to understand about the link between life satisfaction and cognitive performance,” he noted.
While researchers aren’t entirely sure about why the connection exists, they believe that it’s important to focus on the latter years of middle age because this is the period when issues like memory loss and erectile dysfunction are likely to become apparent in those who are prone to them.
It’s not only about sex
Sexual satisfaction is a key component of the study, but it’s really about how much joy a person gets out of their life in general. In addition to cognitive decline, scientists think that reduced satisfaction in life can also contribute to higher levels of stress as well as heart-related problems.
Nevertheless, engaging in and enjoying sex might be a big step in the right direction.
As Sliwinski concluded: “We tell people they should get more exercise and eat better foods. We’re showing that sexual satisfaction also has importance for our health and general quality of life.”
