Scientists Find Out Which Personality Traits Are Associated With The Risk Of Developing Dementia

Scientists find out which personality traits are associated with the risk of developing dementia

The study found that openness protects against syndromes that precede acquired intellectual disabilities, and neuroticism increases their risk.

Photo: Tessa Rampersad / Unsplash

Scientists have tested how five personality traits are associated with the risk of developing dementia - extraversion, neuroticism, easygoingness, conscientiousness and openness of nature. They published their results in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The study authors looked for a link between personality traits and the syndromes that precede dementia. These include motor (movement) disorders and mild cognitive impairments.

The study involved 524 people aged 65 and over. The participants were followed for at least three years, during this period, motor impairment developed in 38 of them, and cognitive impairment - in 69.

It turned out that openness is associated with a 6% reduction in the risk of motor impairments (for example, slowdown in penetration). Neuroticism has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive abnormalities not associated with memory loss (non-amnestic). The latter are characterized by impaired speech, executive functions (attention control, cognitive inhibition, and others). These pathologies are not yet considered dementia - they are not severe enough.

Scientists do not know the exact explanation why certain personality traits are associated with the onset of syndromes that precede dementia. They do not exclude that these traits are themselves markers of certain cognitive abnormalities. Perhaps some of them will be the causes of dementia, the authors say.

Scientists point out that more evidence is needed to argue that personality traits are independent risk factors for dementia. They write that their findings demonstrate the importance of considering all factors in determining the risk of dementia.

"Observational studies like this can be important in identifying important trends in medicine, but studies of this type cannot show us a causal relationship," said Sara Imarisio of Alzheimer's Research UK.), co-author of the study.