Did you know that your personality can impact how long you live? Canadian and U.S. psychologists collaborated on exploring the relationship between the personality traits—conscientiousness (meaning organized and careful), neuroticism (anxious and stressed easily), and extraversion (outgoing and friendly) —and cognitive health and longevity in older adults. They monitored the mental status and mortality data of nearly 2000 participants over 23 years using data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Results? Conscientious and less neurotic people tended to have healthier brains and lived longer. For women, these personality traits were vital for staying sharp in later years. But extraversion, despite its benefits in social situations, didn't have a clear connection to brain health. Personality traits have cumulative effects on health behaviors across a lifetime, influencing mortality risk. Conscientiousness is a significant factor linked to greater health-promoting and reduced risky behaviors. Listen! Our personalities affect how our brains age and how long we live. Let’s take steps to reduce our stress, especially in these trying times—let’s protect our brains and our lifespans. Reference: Yoneda, T., Graham, E., Lozinski, T., Bennett, D. A., Mroczek, D., Piccinin, A. M., Hofer, S. M., & Muniz-Terrera, G. (2023). Personality traits, cognitive states, and mortality in older adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 124(2), 381–395. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000418

Written by Jarret Bain B.S.