Self-Disciplined Less Likely to Get Alzheimers

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Week of February 3 - February 9, 2008

People who have a tendency to be self-disciplined, careful, and purposeful appear less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

This is what we already know about Alzheimer’s disease:
•    It affects approximately 4.5 million Americans, robbing them of their memory and leading to profound disability and eventually death.
•    There is currently no known cure, and the available drugs only alleviate symptoms.
•    The progressive disease is diagnosed mainly by its symptoms, making early diagnosis and tracking very difficult. A definitive diagnosis of the disease can only be made during autopsy.

To investigate how a person’s conscientiousness influences their mental health, researchers studied nearly 1000 healthy older adults over a 12-year period. They underwent medical exams and mental testing, and were scored on their level of self-discipline and purposefulness.

They found that those who had conscientiousness scores in the 90th percentile were 89% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease when compared to those in the bottom 10th or lower. Conscientiousness was also associated with a slower rate of mental decline and a lower risk of mild mental impairment, a condition that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers suggest that conscientious people may be more likely to be successful academically and in their profession, both of which have been associated with a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Also, being conscientious may be associated with resilience and coping actively with difficulties, which may reduce mental stress and negative behaviour, factors associated with the risk of dementia in old age.

According to the latest research, maintaining an active mind and body can help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. This means staying in shape physically, eating a healthy well-balanced diet, and engaging in mentally stimulating activities like reading, socializing, and doing crossword puzzles.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.

More information:

Sources:

Archives of General Psychiatry

Insider Medicine

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Reviewed for medical accuracy by
Dr. B. Ancselovits, MD, Geriatrician, Alzheimer's Weekly

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