University Study Determines Link Between Cynicism and Dementia

We all possess some sort of distrust of the unknown, but researchers at the University of Eastern Finland have found that an overly cynical personality and high levels of distrust are associated with the incidence of dementia.

Dementia is the general term for a decline in mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily life, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, with over 5.3 million Americans suffering from the mental ailment. Such mental diseases are typically associated with a decline in memory and other thinking skills due to the damaging of brain cells.

The University of Eastern Finland researchers gathered nearly 1,500 people to participate in their study. After administering tests to screen for dementia and questionnaires to gauge one's level of cynicism, they determined that cynicism or high levels of distrust are associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia. In general, they found that cynicism might have a detrimental effect on long-term cognitive health.

The average age of the study's participants was 71 years. 622 of the 1,500 participants completed two tests for dementia: one at the beginning of the study and one eight years later. 46 of the 622 people were found to have developed dementia over the course of eight years, and after controlling/adjusting for certain factors, the researchers found that people with high levels of cynicism were more likely to develop dementia than those with low levels. Of the 164 people considered to have high levels of cynicism, 14 of them developed dementia, compared to nine out of 212 people with low levels of cynicism.

"These results add to the evidence that people's view on life and personality may have an impact on their health," said the study's leader, Dr. Anna-Maija Tolppanen, in this BBC News article. "People with different personality traits may be more or less likely to engage in activities that are beneficial for cognition, such as healthy diet, cognitive or social activities, or exercise."

These findings are significant because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that the current rate of Alzheimer's is likely to double by 2050 due to the country's aging population. And it could be important for those who are aging to help themselves and ease up on their cynicism (since such an outlook typically develops as one gets older).