The research: The study team asked roughly 1,500 people to take tests measuring their levels of dementia, as well as their tendency toward cynicism—or the belief that other people are mainly motivated by selfish concerns. After about 8 years, they repeated some of the tests, while also checking for dementia diagnoses among the study participants. Compared to people who measured lowest on the cynicism scale, those who tested highest for the pessimistic trait were about three times more likely to have developed dementia, the research shows. MORE: How Daily Meditation Can Fight Off Dementia What it means: Dementia is a complicated condition that results from “a constellation” of different factors, explains study coauthor Anna-Maija Tolppanen, PhD, of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. While it’s not totally clear how cynicism fits into the picture, it’s possible that a distrust of others means cynical people spend less time socializing. And that’s a problem, as multiple studies have linked spending time with friends to better brain health and improved cognitive outcomes, Tolppanen explains. The bottom line: Regardless of your personality traits, sticking to a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and spending time socializing are all proven dementia-fighters, Tolppanen says. Some mental exercises can also help ward off dementia, she adds. MORE: The One Habit Cuts Your Dementia Risk 50%
