New research from the Florida State University College of Medicine found that changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease are often visible early on in individuals with personality traits associated with the condition.
The study focused on two traits previously linked to the risk of dementia: neuroticism, which measures a predisposition for negative emotions, and conscientiousness, which measures the tendency to be careful, organized, goal-directed and responsible.
“We have done studies showing who’s at risk of developing dementia, but those other studies were looking at the clinical diagnosis,” said Antonio Terracciano, professor of geriatrics at the College of Medicine. “Here, we are looking at the neuropathology; that is, the lesions in the brain that tell us about the underlying pathological change. This study shows that even before clinical dementia, personality predicts the accumulation of pathology associated with dementia.”
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This is fascinating. Both my parents had some form of dementia — and neither one was neurotic (I don’t think), but they were conscientious. I’m sure there were quite a few other factors though – for instance, my mother hated to cook and they ate a lot of dead food (TV dinners), and had many other health problems. I’m doing what I can to protect my health, but you can’t change your personality!
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I have dementia on both sides of my family, about five different instances, so I am very focused on keeping my mind and body fit – and hoping for the best. I don’t know what else you can do. Good luck!
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Are you saying that, “The study focused on two traits previously linked to the risk of dementia: neuroticism, which measures a predisposition for negative emotions, and conscientiousness, which measures the tendency to be careful, organized, goal-directed and responsible.”, conscientiousness is one of the two traits of Alzheimers?
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I think that is explained in this graf, “In both the BLSA and meta-analysis, the researchers found more amyloid and tau deposits (the proteins responsible for the plaques and tangles that characterize Alzheimer’s disease) in participants who scored higher in neuroticism and lower in conscientiousness.” It was lower in conscientiousness, not higher.
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Now that makes sense!
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Thanks, Paul. I appreciate your attention.
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