New findings from American researchers highlight how openness to experience may bolster cognitive reserve and slow age-related brain changes
New insights come from a major New York research center that explored how curiosity and imagination shape the brain’s resilience as people age. The study suggests that openness to experience strengthens cognitive reserve, helping the brain manage aging and potential pathology. This work adds to a growing body of knowledge in aging and cognition. As scientists compare lifestyle and psychological factors that support mental sharpness across the lifespan, the field continues to evolve. The summary here reflects observations about how flexible thinking and curiosity relate to cognitive health for adults across a broad age range. The findings align with ongoing conversations about how mental engagement supports brain function over time. Researchers emphasize that openness appears to play a meaningful role in maintaining cognitive abilities as people grow older. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
Openness encompasses a cluster of traits such as imagination, curiosity, and a wide range of interests. These attributes are linked to a willingness to explore new ideas and undertake unfamiliar tasks. In cognitive science, openness has been examined as a factor that broadens the mental toolkit used for problem solving and information processing. The current results identify a clear link between higher openness and stronger cognitive reserve, a concept describing the brain’s capacity to withstand aging effects by leveraging a diverse set of neural resources. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
Cognitive reserve is thought to shield the brain from the damaging impact of conditions that affect thinking and memory. Practically, individuals with a robust reserve may experience slower decline in certain cognitive skills even when underlying brain changes are occurring. This protective effect has been discussed in relation to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, where maintaining mental activity and engagement appears beneficial. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
The study included 399 participants ranging in age from 19 to 80. Each person completed a series of cognitive assessments designed to gauge performance in four domains: fluency of thought, vocabulary breadth, memory, and perceptual speed. Researchers then analyzed how scores in these areas related to levels of openness. The breadth of testing provides a multifaceted picture of mental performance beyond a single measure. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
Across the board, scientists observed a positive association between elevated openness and greater cognitive reserve. Individuals who scored higher on openness tended to show benefits in several cognitive domains, including flexible thinking, vocabulary, and perceptual speed. These results suggest that openness may contribute to a more adaptable approach to processing information, which can support daily intellectual functioning as people age. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
A particularly striking aspect was the protective link between openness and perceptual speed. Perceptual speed refers to the ability to quickly and accurately identify visual information and respond to it. The study found that individuals with higher openness experienced minimal decline in this domain over time, whereas those with lower openness showed more noticeable slowing as brain health changed. This pattern highlights the potential for openness to help preserve speed of information processing in aging populations. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
The researchers noted that this protective effect did not appear for all personality traits studied. Conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism did not demonstrate the same protective connection with cognitive reserve in this dataset. The authors suggest that the mechanism by which openness affects cognitive resilience may be unique and distinct from other personality dimensions. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
In discussing these results, scientists reference past work that has explored how engagement with new ideas can support mental flexibility, a key component of cognitive health. The overall message is that openness to experience could be a practical area for individuals seeking to support cognitive vitality as they age. The study adds to an ongoing conversation about how lifestyle choices and personality factors contribute to brain health across adulthood. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
It is important to note that while openness showed promise in this study, other psychological traits did not show the same protective link. This specificity invites further research to understand the neural mechanisms at play and to determine how openness interacts with other behaviors and environmental factors that influence cognitive aging. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
Historically, researchers described activities that promote mental well-being across populations. In the evolving landscape of cognitive science, practical pursuits that involve learning, creativity, and problem solving continue to be explored for their potential to support mental health in various contexts. (Citation: NBA study findings.)
Citation: NBA study findings