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A recent international investigation published in Nature Mental Health has explored the links between psychological profiles and cognitive decline as well as brain changes that accompany aging. The study involved over 1,000 middle-aged and older participants, revealing that distinct psychological traits within each profile could affect the likelihood of developing dementia, the rate of cognitive decline, and even sleep quality. These insights could pave the way for developing more tailored prevention strategies that consider individual psychological factors.
The research team emphasizes the importance of comprehensive psychological evaluations to identify unique profiles among patients. This approach allows for the implementation of more personalized and effective behavioral change strategies.
Leading the study is David Bartrés-Faz, associated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Institute of Neurosciences (UBneuro) at the University of Barcelona. He also holds a position at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and spearheads the Institut Guttmann Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI), a project dedicated to discovering ways to sustain cognitive health.
Exploring Risk and Protective Factors
Previous research has identified specific psychological traits that might influence cognitive health, highlighting both risk and protective factors related to neurodegeneration and dementia. For instance, repeated negative thinking and high levels of perceived stress correlate with increased risk, whereas a strong sense of purpose and self-reflection are linked to protective benefits.
This particular study assessed data from the BBHI and Medit-Ageing international study, focusing on the interaction between these protective and risky psychological traits in two separate groups of middle-aged adults and older individuals without cognitive impairment.
Bartrés-Faz points out that past investigations have generally analyzed psychological risk and protective components in isolation, which limits understanding since these traits do not function independently.
The research group further examined how belonging to each identified psychological profile correlates with mental health outcomes, cognitive abilities, lifestyle choices, and brain integrity, the latter assessed through measurements like cortical thickness. “The goal was to determine how different combinations of psychological features relate to overall mental, cognitive, and brain health,” explains Bartrés-Faz.
Implications for Mental and Cognitive Health
Findings indicate that individuals with a “well-balanced” psychological profile—characterized by a mix of moderate protective factors and lower risk traits—exhibited improved cognitive and mental health across all measured outcomes. “These associations were consistent across all age demographics, underlining the significance of a balanced psychological state as a determinant of mental, cognitive, and brain health in later life stages,” Bartrés-Faz adds.
In contrast, those with a profile lacking protective traits, such as a sense of purpose or high levels of openness and extraversion, demonstrated poorer cognitive performance, greater brain atrophy visible even in middle-aged individuals, and a tendency to neglect healthy lifestyle choices.
The third profile, dominated by negative traits such as a high tendency for distress and persistent negative thoughts, poses a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This profile is associated with various psycho-affective symptoms, including depression, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, feelings of loneliness, and sleep disturbances, as noted by the researcher.
Prospects for Future Preventive Strategies
When supported by studies involving larger samples, these findings could greatly influence the design of preventive interventions focused on modifying psychological traits and lifestyle habits. For example, individuals exhibiting traits aligned with the profile characterized by low protective factors might benefit from psychological therapies aimed at identifying or reshaping valued behaviors and life objectives, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, suggests Bartrés-Faz.
Conversely, individuals falling under the third profile may respond better to interventions focusing on alleviating distress-related symptoms, which research has recently shown to be potentially beneficial. The importance of thorough psychological assessments—including evaluations of both risk and protective factors—is crucial to accurately determine each individual’s risk profile.
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