An international team of scientists, led by Professor David Bartres-Morocco from the University of Barcelona, conducted a study in which they identified three different psychological types associated with different rates of brain aging. The study was published in the journal Nature Mental Health (NMH).
Researchers examined data from more than a thousand middle-aged and elderly people to understand how individual psychological characteristics affect the risk of developing dementia, the rate of brain decline, and sleep quality. As a result, they identified three main psychological profiles.
The first profile, called “Balanced,” combines people with delayed brain aging due to multiple protective factors. These people have a high sense of meaning in life and are open to new experiences. They show better cognitive and mental abilities and also adhere to a healthy lifestyle. The second profile, called “low protective factors”, unites people with low meaningfulness in life, introversion and insufficient mental flexibility. Cognitive abilities worsened, brain atrophy increased, and they were less likely to lead healthy lifestyles. The third profile, “high levels of negative traits,” combines participants with increased propensity for stress and negative thoughts. There were symptoms of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep disturbances and increased risk of dementia.
Bartres-Fas emphasizes that future prevention programs should take into account each person’s unique combination of psychological characteristics. For example, people with low numbers of protective factors may benefit from therapeutic approaches to help them find meaning in life, such as acceptance therapy. Methods that reduce stress are more suitable for people with dominant negative characteristics.
Scientists hope that further research on larger samples will help expand understanding of the impact of psychological traits on the brain and improve methods for preventing cognitive disorders.
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Source: Gazeta
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