The Personality Trait That Protects Against Brain Aging

When I was still working I had this until I coasted my last six years prior to retiring.

noun: conscientiousness

the quality of wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.

 

The Personality Trait That Protects Against Brain Aging

Personality can help sustain thinking skills in the face of brain aging.

A conscientious personality helps protect against brain aging, a study finds.

Conscientious people tend to be well-organised, self-disciplined and motivated for achievement.

People who are higher on this personality trait, which is one of the five major aspects of personality, tend to have greater cognitive resilience.

Cognitive resilience is the ability to maintain strong thinking skills despite deterioration in the brain that occurs naturally with age.

Dr Eileen Graham, the study’s first author, said:

“These findings provide evidence that it is possible for older adults to live with the neuropathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias while maintaining relatively healthy levels of cognitive function.”

In contrast, a neurotic personality can increase the risk of worse cognitive functioning, the research also found.

People who are neurotic tend to be moody, impulsive and anxious.

They also tend to have lower cognitive resilience, meaning they find it harder to resist the brain’s deterioration with age.

Dr Graham said:

“Our study shows personality traits are related to how well people are able to maintain their cognitive function in spite of developing neuropathology.

Since it is possible for personality to change, both volitionally and through interventions, it’s possible that personality could be used to identify those who are at risk and implement early interventions to help optimize function throughout old age.”

The results come from a study of 1,375 people whose brains were examined for damage after they died.

These results were compared to years of tests previously done on their psychological and cognitive functioning.

It is one of the first studies to show that personality can help people to sustain their thinking skills despite brain aging.

Personality, Retirement, and Cognitive Impairment: Moderating and Mediating Associations

I think I'm good on conscientiousness and lower neuroticism and nothing here will change my stance on retirement.

 Personality, Retirement, and Cognitive Impairment: Moderating and Mediating Associations

Jason E. Strickhouser, PhD, Angelina R. Sutin, PhD

First Published October 25, 2020 Research Article Find in PubMed 

https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264320969080

Article information

Abstract

Objectives: 

Five-factor model (FFM) personality traits, including higher conscientiousness and lower neuroticism, are associated with lower risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. In this research, we test whether retirement status moderates and/or mediates the relation between personality and cognitive impairment.  

Method: 

We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 9899), a longitudinal study of Americans over the age of 50 years, to examine moderating and mediating associations between personality traits and retirement status on risk of dementia and cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND) over an 8–10 year follow-up.  

Results: 

Personality and retirement each had strong, independent associations with risk of dementia and CIND. There were not, however, strong or consistent, moderating or mediating associations between personality and retirement predicting impairment risk.  

Discussion: Overall, these results indicate that personality and retirement are independent risk factors for incident cognitive impairment. Mechanisms other than retirement are likely to explain this association.

Keywords personality, retirement, dementia, cognitive impairment, longitudinal

Access Options

 

Could your personality influence your risk of Alzheimer's disease?

Does your doctor even know that you should be informed on this and have ways to change since you have an an extremely likely chance of getting dementia? 

1. A documented 33% dementia chance post-stroke from an Australian study?   May 2012.

2. Then this study came out and seems to have a range from 17-66%. December 2013.

3. A 20% chance in this research.   July 2013.

4. Dementia Risk Doubled in Patients Following Stroke September 2018 

5. Parkinson’s Disease May Have Link to Stroke March 2017 

The latest here:

Could your personality influence your risk of Alzheimer's disease?

New European research has found that certain personality traits may influence an individual's risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Carried out by scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, the new study looked at 65 participants over the age of 65 and followed them for a period of five years.
During this time, the participants underwent tests such as neurocognitive assessments, functional and structural brain imaging to assess amyloid accumulation in the brain and brain volume, and personality tests.
The findings, published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, showed perhaps surprisingly, that people who score lower for agreeableness -- in short people who are more unpleasant -- appeared to have a brain that is better protected against Alzheimer's disease. The same was also true for people who are not afraid of conflicts and who show characteristics of anti-conformity.
Participants with these three personality traits tended to lose less volume in the brain regions which typically shrink in both normal aging and in Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers explain that atrophy, or shrinking, of certain brain regions is one of the major features that comes before memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.
"A high level of agreeableness characterizes highly adaptive personalities, who want above all to be in line with the wishes of others, to avoid conflict, and to seek cooperation," explains Professor Panteleimon Giannakopoulos, who directed the research. "This differs from extraversion. You can be very extroverted and not very pleasant, as are narcissistic personalities, for example. The important determinant is the relationship to the other: do we adapt to others at our own expenses?"
In addition, the team also found that another personality trait that seems to have a protective effect is being curious and open to experience. "This is less surprising, as we already knew that the desire to learn and interest in the world around us protects against cerebral ageing," said Professor Giannakopoulos.
Alzheimer's is the main cause of dementia in the elderly. Some risk factors for the disease have already been established, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, but the how non-biological factors may play a role is still unclear.
"If it seems difficult to profoundly change one's personality, especially at an advanced age, taking this into account in a personalized medicine perspective is essential in order to weigh up all the protective and risk factors of Alzheimer's disease. It is an important part of a complex puzzle," the authors conclude.

1. Agreableness: Yep, good on this except for my ex.
2. Being curious: Open to experience: I want to know about everything. 
   Why do you think I went to Madagascar?
3. Not afraid of conflicts, anti-conformity: Seems to conflict with number 1. 

So demand your doctor figure out the EXACT protocols you need to accomplish to reduce your Alzheimer's risk.

What Your Toilet Paper Reveals About Your Personality

It has to be over because that is the only way you can do the sacred point that motels/hotels use. As written about in 'Motel of the mysteries', Book by David Macaulay.
http://www.spring.org.uk/2017/05/what-your-toilet-paper-reveals-about-your-personality.php?omhide=true 
Do you hang your toilet roll with the end of the paper hanging ‘over’ or with the end hanging ‘under’?
According to a survey by Dr Gilda Carle, ‘over’ people are more assertive.
Assertive people are more likely to be in leadership roles and to have a take-charge attitude, says Dr Carle.
Those hanging the roll ‘under’ are more likely to be submissive.
Submissive people tend to be more agreeable, flexible and empathetic, says Dr Carle.
To create the toilet paper personality test, Dr Carle surveyed around 2,000 people of all ages, asking them whether they rolled the paper over or under.
Some people, Dr Carle has found, actually switched the toilet roll in other people’s houses (around one in five).
Naturally it was those ‘over’ people imposing their dominant personality on submissive ‘unders’.

The rich roll over

Rolling under might also be linked to lower earnings, another survey has found.
73% of those earning under $20,000 rolled under, while 60% of those earning over $50,000 roll over.
(Who knew there were so many surveys on toilet roll alignment?)

→ Try one of PsyBlog’s ebooks, all written by Dr Jeremy Dean:

• Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do (NEW)
• The Anxiety Plan: 42 Strategies For Worry, Phobias, OCD and Panic
• Spark: 17 Steps That Will Boost Your Motivation For Anything

Note: this survey was not published in a reputable peer-reviewed journal!

Follow PsyBlog

Popular articles

• The Two Universal Reasons People Attempt Suicide
• What Your Toilet Paper Reveals About Your Personality
• The Natural Dietary Add-On Found To Treat Depression
• Revealed: Long-Suspected Danger of Anti-Anxiety and Sleeping Drugs
• This Subtle Dementia Symptom Sends Early Warning
• Dilated Pupils: 10 Messages My Eyes are Sending You
• 7 Signs That You Are Probably Smarter Than Average
• The Popular Supplement That Boosts Memory And Learning
• The Clothing That Makes People Appear More Intelligent
• Empathy Is Killed By Popular Painkiller Found In 600 Different Drugs

Search

One-Minute Personality Test: How Open To Experience Are You?

I think you would have to score high on here for your recovery since you have to be open to trying anything to recover since your doctor knows absolutely nothing to help you.
http://www.spring.org.uk/test/one-minute-personality-test-how-open-to-experience-are-you?

Very high openness to experience - 40 out of 40

You are more open to experience than at least 93% of people -- even more than that if you scored higher than a 29.

How Neurotic Are You? One-Minute Personality Test

I scored 0 out of 40.

Very low neuroticism

You personality is more emotionally stable than at least 93% of people -- even more than that if you scored lower than a 3.

Have at it. I'm sure there is some correlation with happiness and ability to handle setbacks. Your doctor probably should know this in order to treat you better.

http://www.spring.org.uk/test/how-neurotic-are-you-one-minute-personality-test-25? 

Personality Traits Predict the Onset of Disease

I'm sure your doctor is following this news and up-to-date on research. That would then entail telling you you need to change your personality to reduce your risk of disease.
Abstract here;
http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/10/13/1948550614553248.abstract
More readable article here;
The Best Personality Trait For Your Health

The Blood Type O Individualized Lifestyle - The Type O Profile - Type O Personality?

From my blood donation I found out I was an O negative, universal donor.
O-negative blood group is relatively rare compared to other blood groups. A person with O-negative blood group is a universal donor as O-negative blood can be transfused to any blood group. O-negative blood group has also been associated with certain personality traits.
My doctors obviously were extremely deficient in not giving me the right supplements and using my personality traits to make sure I recovered mentally and physically from the stroke.

BLOOD TYPE O - Your Personalized Nutrition Guide

The Blood Type O Individualized Lifestyle - The Type O Profile - Type O Personality?  

The Blood Type O Individualized Lifestyle

Why are some people plagued by poor health while others seem to live healthy, vital lives even late in life? Does blood type influence personality? A single drop of blood contains a biochemical make up as unique as your fingerprint. Your blood type is a key to unlocking the secrets to your biochemical individuality. Foods and supplements contain lectins that interact with your cells depending on your blood type. This explains why some nutrients which are beneficial to one blood type, may be harmful to the cells of another. Dr. Peter D’Adamo, the author of the best selling books Eat Right for Your Type and Live Right for Your Type gives Type O’s some tips on leading a healthy lifestyle.

The Type O Profile

Type O was the first blood type, the type O ancestral prototype was a canny, aggressive predator. Aspects of the Type O profile remain essential in every society even to this day – leadership, extroversion, energy and focus are among their best traits. Type O’s can be powerful and productive, however, when stressed Type O’s response can be one of anger, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. When Type O wiring gets crossed, as a result of a poor diet, lack of exercise, unhealthy behaviors or elevated stress levels, Type O’s are more vulnerable to negative metabolic effects, including insulin resistance, sluggish thyroid activity, and weight gain. When you customize your life to Type O’s strengths you can reap the benefits of your ancestry. Your genetic inheritance offers you the opportunity to be strong, lean, productive, long-lived and optimistic.  Type O Personality?

In Japan, blood type has long been associated with personality type. You might well be asked your blood type on a job interview! In an independent study of 45 MBA students, Type O’s most often described themselves in ways related to the following characteristics; responsible, decisive, organized, objective, rule-conscious, and practical. Both male and female Type O’s reported a higher percentage of the mesomorphic body type when compared to controls. Interestingly, Type O’s also scored significantly higher than the rest in “sensing” – using the 5 senses to gather information, and in the sensing-thinking combination, indicating that they are more detail and fact oriented, logical, precise and orderly. “I believe that the tendency to sense and get facts right stems from the inbred hunter-gatherer need to observe and accurately assess the environment in order to insure survival.” Says D’Adamo. 

Personality And Heart Attacks - A New Look

You'll have to ask your doctor, hospital and stroke association what the correlation is between personality and stroke. It would seem to be an obvious line of study but our stroke associations will do nothing about this.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=143440&CultureCode=en
A new study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics has addressed the relationship between personality and heart attacks. Distressed (type D) personality (TDP), characterized by high negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), along with depression, anxiety and other negative affects (such as demoralization, hopelessness, pessimism and rumination) have been implicated as potential risk factors for coronary artery disease. While some evidence suggests that the NA dimension of TDP overlaps at least partially with depression, other studies underline how ‘TDP refers to a chronic, more covert form of distress that is distinct from depression'.
In this study, Authors aimed to clarify whether, among never depressed patients at their first acute coronary syndrome (ACS), there is an overlap between the constructs of TDP and depression, evaluating the stability of NA and SI 6 months after the ACS, and their relationship with depressive symptoms. Patients consecutively admitted to the Coronary Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Parma between January 2009 and March 2012 who had their first ACS and no history of major depression (MD) or other psychiatric disorders, were included.
During the follow-up period 30 patients developed depressive symptoms (MD: n = 12; minor depression (md): n = 18), whereas 220 subjects maintained a nondepressive condition throughout the study period. At baseline the NA and SI levels were higher in subjects who developed depression than in patients who did not. However, at the baseline evaluation 19 patients without previous depressive episodes already satisfied the criteria for md. Interestingly, at baseline these subjects showed higher levels of NA and SI than subjects without md. Among patients who developed depression (n = 30) HADS scores significantly changed during the 6-month follow-up: both anxiety and depression scores increased from baseline to the second month of follow-up and then decreased. The same pattern of change was observed for the NA score, whereas the SI score did not vary during follow-up. In nondepressed patients, both HADS depression and anxiety scores and NA score significantly decreased throughout the follow-period, whereas the SI did not change.
In this study, the overlap between depressive psychopathology and NA features is suggested by the course of these two dimensions over time. Indeed, in both depressed and nondepressed patients, NA levels were not stable during the 6-month follow-up, but they changed along with the variation of HADS scores. This finding suggests that the NA dimension is sensitive to mood-state, because its levels increase and decrease according to the fluctuation of severity of depressive and anxious symptoms. This result supports the view that the disposition to experience and report negative emotions (NA) can be sensitive to mood-state. Therefore, the presence of depressive state is crucial when assessing TDP, since NA and anhedonic depression are partially overlapping and co-varying constructs.