A study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and Northwestern University suggests that personality traits such as conscientiousness and extraversion may reduce the risk of dementia, while neuroticism increases it. The findings indicate that personality influences dementia management rather than being directly linked to brain tissue damage. The study analyzed data from over 44,000 people and found that certain personality traits were associated with a higher risk of dementia diagnosis but not with actual neuropathology in the brain. This research could lead to interventions targeting personality traits to reduce dementia risk in the long term.
A study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that extraversion and agreeableness are key personality traits that predict larger social networks in older adults. The research, based on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, found that individuals who are more outgoing and kind tend to have more friends, family members, and close relationships. Verbal communication skills were not significantly related to social relationships. The study highlights the importance of considering individual differences in social network research and understanding the factors that predict network size in later life.
Emotional stability is the personality trait most strongly linked to happiness across the lifespan, while conscientiousness is the best trait for work satisfaction and extraversion and agreeableness are most strongly linked to social satisfaction, according to a study of over 9,000 Dutch adults. The study found that personality traits remain relevant for satisfaction with life, work, and social contacts across young, middle, and older adulthood, and that personality and environment interact to influence satisfaction. Despite common beliefs, personality is capable of change, which can increase life, social, or work satisfaction.
