A large new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and Northwestern University has found an interesting link between personality and the risk of developing dementia.
While scientists have long studied the brain for answers, this research suggests that who we are as people—our personality traits—might also play a role in brain health as we age.
This study stands out because it looked at data from more than 44,000 people, much more than most past research. That means its findings are likely to be more reliable and apply to a wider group of people.
The researchers, led by Professor Emorie Beck, focused on the five main personality traits known as the “Big Five.”
These are conscientiousness (being organized and responsible), extraversion (being outgoing and social), openness to experience (being curious and creative), neuroticism (tendency to worry or feel anxious), and agreeableness (being kind and cooperative).
They also looked at how people felt about their lives—whether they usually had positive or negative emotions, and whether they were satisfied with their life overall.
What they found was quite revealing. People who scored high in traits like conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive emotions were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia. On the other hand, those who were high in neuroticism or often felt negative emotions had a higher risk of developing the condition.
Even people who were more open to new experiences or were agreeable seemed to have some protection against dementia, although the evidence for these traits was found in fewer studies.
One of the most surprising parts of the study was what researchers didn’t find. They saw no clear link between these personality traits and the usual signs of brain damage seen in people with dementia. This suggests that personality might help people deal with brain problems better, rather than stopping the brain damage itself.
In simple terms, being a certain type of person may help your brain work well even if it’s facing physical challenges. For example, someone who is very conscientious might stay mentally active and better manage their health, helping them handle early signs of dementia.
Another interesting result was that the protective power of being conscientious seemed to grow stronger with age. However, whether someone was male or female, or had more or less education, didn’t seem to change how personality affected their dementia risk.
This study is an important step forward in understanding how everyday traits, not just genes or medical history, can influence brain health. The researchers plan to keep studying why some people with serious brain changes from diseases like Alzheimer’s still manage to stay mentally sharp.
They also hope to find more lifestyle factors that can help lower the risk of dementia. This could include everything from personality and stress to how socially connected people are.
In the big picture, these findings give hope. They show that who we are and how we live our lives may matter more than we once thought. And it opens the door to new ways to protect brain health—possibly starting with building positive personality traits early in life.
If you care about brain health, there are also other studies worth checking out. Some have found ways to activate the brain’s own “fountain of youth.”
Others show how COVID-19 might affect the brain, or how some common heartburn drugs could raise the risk of dementia. There’s even research showing how certain diets, like the MIND diet, might help protect your memory and thinking skills.
The results of this personality study were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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