Imagine de Gerd Altmann de la Pixabay
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Two personality traits are linked to the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows.
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Brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease are often visible early in people with personality traits associated with the condition, according to research by Florida State University College of Medicine.
Two features of the risk of dementia were highlighted in the study: neuroticism and conscientiousness, inform Science Daily.
While neuroticism implies a predisposition for negative emotions, conscientiousness means the tendency to be attentive, organized, responsible and goal-oriented.
“Personality predicts the accumulation of pathology associated with dementia”
“In this study we analyze neuropathology, ie brain lesions that tell us about the basic pathological change. This research shows that before dementia, the personality predicts the accumulation of pathology associated with dementia. “, explained Antonio Terracciano, professor of geriatrics at the College of Medicine.
Several deposits of amyloid and proteins responsible for the plaques and tangles that characterize Alzheimer’s disease were found in participants who obtained a higher score for neuroticism and lower for conscientiousness.
Basically, research shows that personality can help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological diseases, by delaying or preventing the onset of neuropathology for the strongest in terms of conscientiousness and for the neurotic, right Discover.
“Such protection against neuropathology can come from the way people control their emotions and behaviors. For example, past research has shown that low neuroticism helps manage stress and reduces the risk of common mental health disorders. Similarly, high awareness is linked to a healthy lifestyle, such as physical activity, ”said Terracciano.
Methodologies
Data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and previously published work were combined in a meta-analysis that summarized 12 studies on Alzheimer’s personality and neuropathology. In total, more than 3,000 participants were included.
BLSA began in 1958 and is a scientific study on human aging, conducted by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). At the time of enrollment in the study, no patient was suffering from dementia or other severe medical conditions. Their personality was measured by a five-factor personality test.
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