Scientists at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, said certain personality traits protect brain structures against neuro-degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
Among them, people who are less agreeable but with a natural curiosity and little conformism show better preservation of the brain regions that tend to lose volume, both in normal aging and in Alzheimer's disease.
The new findings highlight the importance of taking personality into account in neuropsychiatric disorders and pave the way for more precise prevention strategies.
During the study, the researchers examined a large cohort of people over 65 years of age many times over five years.
The results showed that people who are unpleasant, who are not afraid of conflicts and who show a certain anti-conformity have better protected brain.
In addition, this protection takes place precisely in the memory circuits that are damaged by Alzheimer's disease, according to the Science Daily website.
