Research Hit: Three Psychological Profiles That Determine Mental and Brain Health Over Time
New research has discovered that psychological profiles are associated with various age-related brain functions and disorders
What! Only three psychological profiles that determine this - what was this research?
Yes, it doesn’t sound like much - as usual these will be broad groups, but fascinating nonetheless.
The research was conducted by David Bartrés-Faz and colleagues at the University of Barcelona who wanted to find out how psychological profiles impact aging, mental health, cognitive, and brain health decline. The research into aging mostly focuses on behaviours (see seven habits, for example, below) yet we know that certain psychological characteristics affect multiple mental conditions.
The researchers took data from two cohorts of middle-aged (750) and older adults (282) one of which was overtime and both of which included brain scanning data. This combined with psychological data gives rise to three profiles.
And what were these profiles then?
They called these profiles which are combinations of various traits:
Low Protective: these have slight neuroticism but low levels of conscientiousness, and openness, for example.
High Risk: these are high in neuroticism and worry while low in conscientiousness, openness, and purpose in life.
Well-Balanced: these are low in neuroticism and worry, but high on conscientiousness, openness, and purpose in life.
The Low Protective group was associated with: poorer cognition (especially in older people), more pronounced brain atrophy (already noticeable in middle-aged adults), and less healthy lifestyles.
The High Risk group was associated with: increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia but also expression of symptoms such as depression, anxiety, cognitive complaints, loneliness, and sleep disorders.
And the Well-Balanced group was associated with: better cognitive and mental health in all indicators that were measured - and this in all age groups measured.
From: Bartrés-Faz et al. 2025
So, be well-balanced to protect your brain?
Yes, it shows that personality and psychological traits do indeed impact multiple brain health factors - unsurprising because, for example, if you are high on neuroticism and worry, you will trigger a cascade of negative hormones such as cortisol and increase stress.
But can you change this?
Well, we can change everything to a degree, it just depends how much - I know from my work and others’ research that if we make an effort to change personality we can certainly shift the needle.
So, for the sake of your brain try, to change some of the above factors!
Yes, lower neuroticism, less worry, combined with openness and higher purpose will certainly help…and make your life more enjoyable…which is kind of the same thing.
Also see my post from last year which looks at genes and personality:
References
David Bartrés-Faz, Harriet Demnitz-King, MarÃa Cabello-Toscano, et al.
Psychological profiles associated with mental, cognitive and brain health in middle-aged and older adults.
Nature Mental Health, 2025; 3 (1): 92
DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00361-8