A recent analysis conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and Northwestern University has unveiled a potential link between certain personality traits and a reduced risk of dementia. According to the study, individuals characterized by conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect may be less susceptible to dementia diagnosis than those exhibiting neuroticism and negative affect. Interestingly, this correlation did not appear to be associated with physical brain tissue damage found in dementia patients; rather, it pointed to how specific personality traits could aid individuals in navigating impairments related to dementia.
Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the research aimed to consolidate and assess the strength and consistency of associations between personality traits and dementia risk by analyzing data from eight published studies encompassing over 44,000 participants, 1,703 of whom developed dementia.
Emorie Beck, the study’s first author and assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis, explained that previous studies exploring this link were limited in scope and population representation. Leveraging new technology, the researchers sought to synthesize and validate these associations, considering the potential for targeted interventions earlier in life to reduce dementia risk.
The analysis focused on the “big five” personality traits—conscientiousness, extraversion, openness to experience, neuroticism, and agreeableness—as well as subjective well-being factors like positive and negative affect and life satisfaction. Comparisons were made between these traits and clinical symptoms of dementia, including cognitive test performance, as well as brain pathology observed during autopsy.
The findings indicated that individuals with high scores on negative traits (neuroticism, negative affect) and low scores on positive traits (conscientiousness, extraversion, positive affect) faced a higher risk of dementia diagnosis. Surprisingly, there was no apparent link between these personality traits and neuropathology in the brains of deceased individuals.
Beck suggested that personality traits may contribute to resilience against damage caused by diseases like Alzheimer’s, as individuals with higher levels of certain traits could find ways to cope with impairments. The researchers plan to expand their work, including studying individuals with extensive pathology but minimal cognitive impairment, and exploring additional everyday factors that may influence dementia development.
The study received support from grants provided by the National Institute on Aging.
