As humans age, the cognitive function of the brain often begins to decline, and some individuals become more susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Dementia, along with other progressive neurological conditions, leads to a marked deterioration in a person’s memory, thinking capabilities, and overall mental functioning. This, in turn, drastically reduces their quality of life. However, what remains less understood is the role that psychological traits, such as emotional well-being, personality characteristics, and cognitive resilience, play in the development of such conditions.
Over the years, there has been an increasing body of research aiming to uncover biological markers and lifestyle factors that contribute to dementia’s onset. However, the specific contribution of psychological traits to the decline in mental function, particularly in the context of aging, has remained largely unexplored. In a bid to fill this knowledge gap, a team of researchers from the University of Barcelona, University College London (UCL), Normandy University, and several other institutions across Europe recently undertook an ambitious study to investigate the connection between psychological profiles and brain health in adults from middle age onwards.
The Study and Its Methodology
This collaborative study, published in Nature Mental Health, explored the potential link between certain psychological traits and cognitive decline, attempting to establish whether different psychological characteristics could be connected to specific cognitive health trajectories. The research, led by David Bartrés-Faz and Harriet Demnitz-King, employed a person-centered approach, a method of analysis that identifies groups of individuals with shared psychological characteristics, to examine how these factors affect mental and brain health over time.
The team focused on two cohorts—750 middle-aged adults and 282 older adults—who were part of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative. Participants were first surveyed on various psychological traits like emotional well-being, neuroticism, self-reflection, social engagement, and personality traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness. After 2 to 3 years, they were surveyed again to assess the changes in their brain health, cognitive functions, and emotional well-being.
Identifying the Three Psychological Profiles
Through this thorough analysis, the researchers identified three distinct psychological profiles that were consistently observed across both the middle-aged and older adult cohorts. These profiles varied in terms of mental health symptoms, cognitive abilities, personality traits, and emotional resilience. Importantly, these psychological profiles were linked to different brain health outcomes, specifically in relation to cognitive and cortical decline.
Profile 1: Low Protective Characteristics
The first profile identified by the study was marked by low protective psychological characteristics. Individuals in this group exhibited a tendency toward worry, neuroticism, and lack of traits such as openness, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and purpose in life. These individuals were found to experience the most significant cognitive decline, with poor mental health and the most rapid cortical thinning, a critical marker of brain aging. Their decline in cognitive abilities was notably pronounced over the course of the study, and they demonstrated the least resilience against the detrimental effects of aging.
This profile suggests that certain psychological factors—especially negative emotional patterns such as chronic worrying and neurotic tendencies—could be associated with accelerated cognitive decline. Furthermore, the lack of positive psychological traits such as openness and conscientiousness may contribute to higher vulnerability to neurodegeneration in aging adults.
Profile 2: High Risk Characteristics
The second profile, while similar to the first in terms of neuroticism and worry, was defined by extreme levels of brooding, self-reflection, and a general sense of distress. This profile included individuals who exhibited not only anxiety and neuroticism but also self-criticism and an absence of open-mindedness, conscientiousness, or purpose in life. Individuals within this group were found to report the most severe mental health issues, including poorer sleep quality, heightened emotional distress, and a significantly worse outlook on life.
Notably, this group was associated with the most significant risks for cognitive decline as well as poorer overall mental health. It also presented with lower emotional resilience, making these individuals particularly vulnerable to neurological disorders. Essentially, this profile points to a psychological landscape where rumination and chronic emotional instability play an instrumental role in the deterioration of both brain and mental health.
Profile 3: Well-Balanced Characteristics
The third profile stood in stark contrast to the first two. This profile represented individuals who demonstrated a much more psychologically balanced and healthy range of traits. While there was some degree of brooding (a mild form of rumination), individuals in this group exhibited lower levels of neuroticism, less worry, and significantly higher levels of emotional resilience and psychological traits like extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and purpose in life. They also displayed greater cognitive flexibility and social engagement, which may have helped to foster brain health.
Remarkably, individuals in this well-balanced group showed the best cognitive and mental health outcomes over the study’s follow-up period. Their brains exhibited the slowest cortical thinning and they maintained relatively good mental and emotional health. This profile demonstrates the profound influence that positive psychological traits, such as emotional stability and a sense of purpose, can have on brain health and aging.
Insights and Implications for Dementia Risk
This study offers new and exciting insights into how psychological factors impact the aging process, particularly as they relate to cognitive decline and dementia risk. The identification of the three profiles—each corresponding to different levels of cognitive and brain health—illustrates the powerful role that mental and emotional well-being plays in maintaining brain function.
Furthermore, the study’s findings emphasize that psychological characteristics are not merely a byproduct of aging but rather influential factors that shape the trajectories of cognitive health. For example, while some individuals may exhibit a high level of neuroticism or chronic anxiety that accelerates cognitive decline, others demonstrate emotional resilience and stable psychological traits that help protect their mental health.
Practical Applications for Cognitive and Mental Health
The results from Bartrés-Faz, Demnitz-King, and their colleagues’ study underline the importance of comprehensive psychological assessments as part of dementia prevention research. In fact, the researchers suggest that a deeper understanding of these psychological profiles could pave the way for personalized strategies aimed at fostering psychological well-being, thereby reducing the risk of dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.
“Identifying profile-dependent divergent patterns of associations may suggest two distinct paths for mental, cognitive, and brain health,” they wrote. This insight advocates for more individualized approaches to dementia prevention, where behavior-change strategies can be tailored to the psychological profiles of each person, ultimately improving mental and brain health in older age.
Indeed, this line of research could lead to the development of new interventions that target the psychological characteristics linked to dementia risk, helping individuals maintain cognitive function and emotional well-being through their later years. These interventions might focus on helping individuals develop resilience to stress, fostering emotional stability, and enhancing key psychological traits such as openness, extraversion, and conscientiousness.
Conclusion: The Complex Interplay of Psychology and Brain Health
Ultimately, the findings from this study reveal the complex and vital role that psychological characteristics play in brain aging and dementia risk. The psychological profiles unveiled by the study are critical in understanding how aging impacts mental and cognitive health, suggesting that emotional well-being, personality, and psychological resilience may be just as important as genetic and environmental factors in determining an individual’s cognitive trajectory.
By recognizing and addressing the psychological traits that influence dementia risk, we can work toward developing more effective strategies for prevention and treatment. Moving forward, research such as this can help pave the way for a new approach to aging—one that emphasizes the interconnection between emotional health and cognitive resilience in ensuring that aging populations maintain both a healthy mind and a fulfilling life.
Reference: Psychological profiles associated with mental, cognitive and brain health in middle-aged and older adults. Nature Mental Health(2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00361-8.