HomeLifestyleHealth & FitnessAnyone who lives like that is more likely to get Alzheimer's

Anyone who lives like that is more likely to get Alzheimer’s

Published on

In an observational study, an international research group investigated which properties increase or decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Personality can influence whether you get Alzheimer’s in old age, this study shows.

In the analysis, two personality traits stood out: conscientiousness and neuroticism.

The findings, which were published as an article-in-press in Biological Psychiatry, integrate data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) with previously published work in a meta-analysis of 12 research on personality and Alzheimer’s neuropathology.

In total, about 3,000 people took part in these studies. The results of multiple research are combined to produce more reliable estimations of the relationships between personality and neuropathology than a single study can usually provide.

Researchers analyzed the Big Five personality types that are well-known among mental health professionals in this study.

They include:

  • Conscientiousness: This describes someone who is responsible, careful, and goal- and detail-oriented. They have high impulse control and tend to be organized
  • Agreeableness: This describes a person who is respectful, compassionate, trusting and tries to avoid problems. They tend to be more cooperative and are helpful 
  • Neuroticism: This describes someone who gravitates toward unsettling emotions, such as anxiety and depression. They get upset easily 
  • Openness: This describes a person who is open to new experiences and curious about the world. They are creative and happy to talk about abstract ideas
  • Extraversion or Extroversion: This describes someone who seeks excitement and is active and highly sociable. They are talkative, have a lot of emotional expressiveness and are energized around others

The scans revealed whether there was an accumulation of proteins in the brain, which have been related to cell death and memory loss over time.

Tau causes tangles within a brain cell, whereas amyloid causes plaques to form surrounding it.

The study’s findings revealed that one personality trait, neuroticism, is linked to an elevated risk of protein build-up.

Being conscientious, on the other hand, reduced the chances.

Because personality existed before the tangles and plaques in the brain, it was claimed that personality was a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Commenting on the findings, Dr James Connell, Head of Translational Science at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “While observational studies like this can be important for picking out health trends, this type of research is not able to tell us about cause and effect.

“This study supports a link between personality types, lifestyle choice and features of Alzheimer’s disease, however there is no direct evidence that personality differences affect the disease processes.

“Dementia is a condition that is caused by complex physical changes in the brain and is not down to your personality alone but is likely to be a mix of genetics and lifestyle factors as we age.”

Dr Claire Sexton, director of scientific programs and outreach at Alzheimer’s Association, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today:

“Research has looked at other personality traits, such as openness and extraversion, in relationship with dementia, but neuroticism and conscientiousness has the strongest link, according to recent meta analyses.

“These associations seem to be linear without a threshold […] and there is no specific level that triggers resistance or susceptibility.”

Dr Sexton suggested that people’s personality types may predispose to Alzheimer’s because of lifestyle habits.

“For example, highly conscientious individuals have been shown to have healthier lifestyles — in terms of physical activity, smoking, sleep, depression, cognitive stimulation, etc. — than those with lower conscientiousness,” she said.

“There is a solid body of research connecting lifestyle, dementia risk, and biomarkers.”

But it could also be that personalities and behaviours trigger inflammation – which is associated with Alzheimer’s.

Dr Antonio Terracciano, a professor in the Department of Geriatrics at Florida State University, said: “There are aspects of neuroticism and conscientiousness that might directly impact the risk of dementia. 

“Traits like neuroticism shape our emotional life, the way we cope with stress and deal with our feelings. Conscientiousness is defined by our level of grit, persistence, and planful attitudes.”

Image Credit: Getty

You were reading: Anyone who lives like that is more likely to get Alzheimer’s

Latest articles

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...

Science Shock: Salmon’s Food Choices Better at Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Salmon: Rich in Health Benefits, Yet May Offer Less Nutritional Value - This is...

More like this

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...