Daily Brain Snack: Curiosity Keeps Your Brain Sharp
New research shows how different forms of curiosity change over our lives - and can help keep your brain healthy
Aren’t some people just more curious than others?
Yes, precisely, some of us are. I am, should be obvious by now, very high on what is known as trait curiosity.
What other types of curiosity are there?
Well, in this study by Mary Whately et al. of the University of California, that I am reporting on, they distinguish between trait curiosity which is general curiosity and state curiosity which is being curious and interested in one specific area i.e. when you are keen to learn and go into all sorts of details on a favourite hobby of yours.
And these help keep your brain sharp?
The link is that if we keep learning, we keep building cognitive reserve that has been shown to mitigate or postpone the effects of cognitive decline and various dementias such as Alzheimer’s.
But psychology research has previously shown that curiosity declines with age - but that may grate with some people, like myself, who stay curious, and others that I know of, much older than myself, who also remain curious.
And does curiosity decrease with age?
Well, these researchers conducted a study, first a pilot and then a main study with over 1’200 participants between 20 and 84 with an average age of 44. They investigated attitudes towards trait and state curiosity.
They did indeed see a small drop in curiosity over the lifespan. However there were some intriguing correlations.
What?
Well, first, trait and state curiosity are strongly correlated and match over the lifespan. But state curiosity shows a slightly different pattern, it dips in early adulthood but increases in older adulthood. This actually matches the dip that happiness researchers see.
Why is this?
The researchers speculate that this is related to a different life focus. In early and mid adulthood many people have multiple stressors and are focused on things like building career, building a family, etc. and so need to keep general curiosity high.
But as people mature and kids move out, for example, they can engage in things they are really interested in, state curiosity. So they focus more…but importantly are still curious just in a more specialised way.
And this helps keep the brain sharp?
Yes, keeping cognitively active, the aforementioned cognitive reserve, has been shown to be important in delaying onset of cognitive decline. Whether that is in a specific area or in general is not really relevant.
The old adage of “use it or lose it” applies.
So keep curious - throughout your life!
Yes, keep curious and keep learning throughout your life.
Reference
Mary C. Whatley, Kou Murayama, Michiko Sakaki, Alan D. Castel.
Curiosity across the adult lifespan: Age-related differences in state and trait curiosity.
PLOS One, 2025; 20 (5): e0320600
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320600