A worldwide study published in Nature Mental Health has identified three distinct psychological profiles linked to varying patterns of cognitive and brain decline as people age. Analyzing data from over 1,000 middle-aged and older adults, the research reveals that the unique psychological traits associated with each profile could affect the likelihood of developing dementia, the rate of brain decline, and sleep quality. These insights present opportunities for developing more tailored prevention strategies.
According to the research team, the findings emphasize “the necessity for thorough psychological evaluations of patients in order to identify diverse psychological profiles, which can enable more targeted and personalized behavior modification strategies.”
David Bartrés-Faz, the lead researcher from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Institute of Neurosciences (UBneuro) at the University of Barcelona, heads the study. He also contributes to the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and serves as the principal investigator at the Institut Guttmann Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI), which focuses on discovering ways to sustain brain health.
Factors Influencing Cognitive Decline
Recent research has pinpointed psychological attributes that may either elevate the risk or offer protection against cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, and dementia. For instance, tendencies toward repetitive negative thoughts, distress, and perceived stress are linked to higher risks, while having a sense of life purpose or engaging in self-reflection can serve as protective factors.
This study, based on data from over 1,000 participants involved in the BBHI and the Medit-Ageing international study, explored whether these protective and risk factors coalesce into similar psychological profiles among two independent groups of middle-aged and older individuals without cognitive impairments.
Bartrés-Faz notes, “Until now, psychological risk and protective factors have primarily been examined in isolation, which limits understanding, as these traits do not exist independently.”
The team further investigated the relationships between these profiles and various indicators of mental health, cognitive function, lifestyle choices, and brain integrity—assessed through cortical thickness—along with cognitive progression and brain atrophy over time. “The goal was to clarify the links between different combinations of psychological traits and overall mental, cognitive, and brain health,” the researcher from UB and the Guttmann Institute emphasizes.
Implications for Mental and Cognitive Health
The findings reveal that individuals with a “well-balanced” psychological profile, characterized by moderate high protective traits and moderate low-risk traits, tend to have better overall cognitive and mental health across all measured indicators. “These correlations were evident across all age categories examined, highlighting the importance of evaluating a broad range of psychological factors as critical components of mental, cognitive, and brain health in adulthood and later years,” explains Bartrés-Faz.
Conversely, profiles with lower levels of protective traits—such as purpose, extraversion, or openness to experiences—were associated with poorer cognitive function (notably in older adults), more significant brain atrophy (observable even in middle-aged individuals), and lower adherence to healthy lifestyle choices.
The third profile observed, characterized by elevated negative or risky psychological traits, such as high levels of distress and negative thinking, “may heighten the risk of cognitive decline and dementia through a psycho-emotional pathway, which can include symptoms like depression, anxiety, cognitive complaints, loneliness, and sleep disturbances,” the researcher adds.
Future Prevention Efforts
If validated in studies with larger samples, these results could greatly inform the creation of future preventive measures aimed at altering psychological factors and lifestyle habits. “For example, individuals exhibiting traits aligned with the profile that has low protective factors might benefit more from psychological therapies that focus on identifying or reestablishing valued behaviors and life purposes, such as acceptance and commitment therapy,” Bartrés-Faz observes.
On the other hand, “those who fit the criteria for the third identified profile might respond better to therapies designed to alleviate distress-related symptoms, which recent studies have shown to hold potential benefits,” the researcher states. He underscores the necessity of “comprehensive psychological evaluations that assess both risk and protective factors to accurately gauge each individual’s risk profile.”
