As I head out for another round of tennis, not only am I maintaining or trying establish physical health but I am also aiding my mental health. Research has determined that to help avoid dementia in my old age, it is a good idea to be calm and build a strong network of friends. This is the conclusion of a new study that explores the links between personality, lifestyle and dementia.
The researchers recruited 500 healthy seniors, who completed a series of questionnaires designed to assess personality traits and lifestyle habits. The seniors were then followed for six years. During that time, 144 of them developed dementia. This study was one of the first to examine the effects of multiple factors not just stress and socialization separately.
Their findings suggest that having a calm and outgoing personality in combination with a socially active lifestyle may decrease the risk of developing dementia.
Researcher. Dr. Hui-Xin Wang determined high levels of stress hormones appear to damage the brain's hippocampus "which may exacerbate cognitive deficits in old age and contribute to the development of dementia."
The study did acknowledge that it is hard to change your personality but it is important to begin to understand the impact of these factors on future mental health.
Time to socialize and enjoy.
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