When we consider the possible risk factors for cognitive decline, most people immediately think of aging, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
However, there is one factor most people hardly consider – their personality. Dr. Daniel Levitin, neuroscientist and professor emeritus of psychology at McGill University, recently published his new book Successful Aging, where he discusses how personality affects cognition and why it is an overlooked factor in how some people age better than others.
In this article, we examine Levitin’s findings and the latest research addressing how certain personality traits are linked to cognitive and physical wellbeing. We also discuss how one ground-breaking study proved that personality traits do change over time, as well as Levitin’s thoughts on how people have the power to improve their personalities to achieve better physical and mental health.
How Are Personality Traits Linked to Brain Health and Aging?
According to Levitin in a recent interview, “Of the six most impactful factors of healthy aging, five are direct features of personality: conscientiousness, openness, sociability, curiosity, and resilience. The sixth is healthy practices (Scott, P.S., 2020).” Levitin based his findings on the famous Five-Factor Model or “Big Five” personality test. The scale of personality traits includes Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
Levitin believes the two most crucial personality traits that predict successful aging are Conscientiousness and Openness. He feels that those who are conscientious are reliable and dependable. These traits lead to proactive behavior in terms of healthy diet, getting yearly physicals, and saving money – all things associated with brain health and living a long life.
When speaking to UC Berkley’s Greater Good Magazine, Levitin reveals openness is “increasingly important as we age because we tend to want to not do new things and to just do the things we’ve always done – and that can cause a more rapid cognitive decline (Suttie, J., 2020).” He also believes personality is the single most significant determinant of living a happy and productive life and calls personality a vital overlooked factor in why some people age better than others (Scott, P.S., 2020).
Latest Cognitive Studies on Aging and Personality
One study, who also used the Big Five test, examined personality and neurocognitive functioning among individuals 51 years and older. Like Levitin, researchers found that Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Openness personality traits are associated with good cognitive health. However, this study also found that Agreeableness was negatively associated with several neurocognitive functions, while Neuroticism was negatively associated with memory and cognitive effort (Maldonado, N.M. et al., 2017).
A recent study looking at a similar age group, traits, and domains of cognitive function also found Conscientiousness and Openness to be aligned with positive mental health. Neuroticism was also associated with worse performance on all of the cognitive tasks. However, the difference this time was that Agreeableness was associated with better performance in all domains, except for numeric reasoning. (Sutton, A.R., et al., 2019).
It’s unclear as to why the outcomes of Agreeableness varied significantly in both studies. However, what is clear is that certain personality traits are linked to better cognitive and physical health, but do traits change over time? Moreover, can someone actually change their personality to live a healthier life?
The Fifty-Year Experiment
Researchers from the University of Houston, Texas, examined the personality of 1,795 volunteers at 16 and then again 50 years later at 66. The goal of the study was to see how much people’s personalities change or remain stable from high school to retirement.
Their findings concluded that personality does change over time. The traits that changed the most were emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. The principle author states, “Our findings suggest that personality has a stable component across the lifespan, both at the trait level and the profile level, and that personality is also malleable, and people mature as they age (Damian, R.I. et al., 2019).”
Can Someone Change Personality Traits To Live a Healthier Life?
According to Levitin, there are various ways to achieve personality change, but ultimately, every person has to find what works for them. A few of his tips include:
- Know the “why” behind the change. When a person feels passionate about the reason, they will be more likely to stick with the shift.
- Find tools that help sustain the change. Levitin suggests things like mindfulness, or therapy, an encouraging spouse, a role model, or religion. He believes every major religion teaches us that we can change our personality for the better.
- Treat significant life changes (such as retirement) as a health crossroads and a chance to re-evaluate the future.
- Practice gratitude. It’s a powerful mindset that alters brain chemistry (increases dopamine production) toward more positive emotions.
Levitin ends one interview with these parting thoughts, “Not everyone takes advantage of the capacity to change personality, but it’s there, like the ability to adjust your diet or wardrobe (Scott, P.S., 2020).”
References:
Damian, R.I. et al. (2019). Sixteen going on sixty-six: A longitudinal study of personality stability and change across 50 years. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 117(3), 674–695.
Maldonado, N.M. et al. (2017). The relationship between personality and neurocognition among the american elderly: an epidemiologic study. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 13:233-245.
Scott, P.S. (2020, February 13). Noted neuroscientist: change your personality for better aging. Next Avenue. Retrieved from https://www.nextavenue.org/change-personality-healthier-aging/.
Suttie, J. (2020, January 20). What neuroscience can teach us about aging better. UC Berkeley Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_neuroscience_can_teach_us_about_aging_better.
Sutton, A.R., et al. (2019). Five-factor model personality traits and cognitive function in five domains in older adulthood. BMC Geriatrics. 19:343.