What makes us different? Read our Declaration of Journalistic Independence Home | About Natural News | Contact Us | Write for Natural News
Search our 25,000 free articles and special reports
Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s Risk Diminished by Behavioral Trait

Saturday, October 27, 2007 by: Laura Weldon (see all articles by this author)
| Key concepts: Alzheimer’s, epidemic and the brain

Want stories like this e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts
Email this article to a friend Printable Version

Personal Health Solutions from NaturalNews

Replace your toxic laundry detergent with natural laundry soap that grows on trees! (NEW source!)
This top "underground" natural health newsletter brings you amazing new natural cures each month. Save $100!
How to treat and cure over 100 health conditions using little-known health secrets
How to halt type-2 diabetes with nutritional therapy - over 50% cure rate proven in studies
End cravings with this guide to natural appetite suppressants (Download edition available.)
How to blend nutritious meals in minutes with Adams' Superfood smoothie recipes (Delicious!)
Breakthrough LED lighting technology prevents global warming, saves 90% on your lighting bill

• Browse more health books...
• Shop our eco-friendly products...

All sales help fund naturalnews operations.
(NaturalNews) A study of nearly 1,000 people found that certain personality traits appeared to be a significant factor in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Even when mental stimulation and exercise were accounted for by researchers the link remained strong. The trait? Conscientiousness.

A Rush University Medical Center study followed 997 Catholic nuns, priests and monks from 1994 to 2006. Participants were given neurological exams, cognitive tests and personality surveys. The personality test determined self-discipline based on answers to such questions as, “I am a productive person who always gets the job done.” The average score on this test was 34 points on a scale from 0 to 48.

Eventually 176 of these volunteers developed Alzheimer’s disease. But those whose personalities were meticulous, self-disciplined and productive tended to remain disease free. In fact the participants with the highest scores in conscientiousness, 40 points or more, were found to have an 89% lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who scored 28 or lower.

When exercise and intellectual engagement were taken into account the participants still showed a 54% lower incidence of developing the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, but in this study there were as many plaques and protein tangles in the brains of those who scored high in the self-discipline tests as those who scored low. This adds to the mystery of this now common disease.

There are many complex factors which remain unknown about Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists may never determine exactly how environmental toxins, dietary choices, exercise, behavior and other variables interact to cause the disease. Reducing risk should be a priority, especially now that researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health call Alzheimer’s disease an epidemic. They predict that in little over 40 years 1 in 85 persons worldwide could suffer the irreversible dementia characterizing the disease.

Report in New Scientist of Alzheimer’s disease linked to conscientious behavior http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/dn12717-selfdiscipline-may-reduce-alzheimers-risk.html

Johns Hopkins Public Health Magazine forecasting Alzheimer’s epidemic

http://magazine.jhsph.edu/2007/Spring/features/aging_health/?page=3


About the author

Laura Weldon is a writer with a book called Free Range Learning coming out in 2008. She lives on an organic farm and believes in bliss.

Related Articles

• With Alzheimer’s, continuing to keep the mind active slows deterioration

• Calorie Restriction May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease (press release)

• Calorie Restriction in Non-Human Primates May Prevent, Reduce Alzheimer’s Neuropathology (press release)

• Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine Reduces the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (press release)

• Juices may reduce Alzheimer's disease risk (press release)

Additional Resources:

Alzheimer’s
epidemic
the brain

Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com

Email this article to a friend

Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us

Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/022171.html

Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.

Receive our Natural Health Newsletter for FREE

Subscribe now (it's free!) to win. We randomly choose a subscriber each month to send $100 in eco-home products or a RealGoods.com gift certificate (our choice). Plus, you'll receive FREE news, articles and action alerts from NaturalNews.com editors and join over 800,000 monthly readers who report extraordinary health improvements after becoming a subscriber!
  • Receive breaking news alerts on natural health solutions, renewable energy, the environment, global warming and more.
  • Receive a free instant download of our $29 Secret Sources guide that reveals top sources for little-known health and diet solutions.
Your Email Address:
Free Subscription Code:
Enter the numbers you see:
100% free of charge. Unsubscribe anytime.
Absolutely no spam. We respect your email privacy.

Recommended Special Report:

Seven Words that can Change the World
by Joseph R. Simonetta

Read this special report now...

"Seven Words That Can Change the World reveals the astonishing, simple truths that have the power to forever transform our world for the better while freeing our minds from the enslavement of limiting beliefs. This is not a text for the simple-minded; it is a guiding philosophy for the mindful, intelligent few who are wise enough to seek out -- and recognize -- the higher simplicities of truly purposeful living." - Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com

More on NaturalNews.com:

• Streaming Health Ranger Videos
• CounterThink Cartoons
• FREE Special Reports
• Podcasts

Also Posted Today

• NaturalNews Publishes Audio Interviews with Dr. Brian O'Leary, Dr. Stephen Sinatra and Byron Richards

• 28 Women Miscarry After Receiving Gardasil HPV Vaccination; FDA Not Concerned

• The Many Environmental and Health Benefits of Hemp

• Codex Designates GMOs as Contaminants in Food

• Plant-Based Diets: An Overview of Options for Optimal Health

Beat Disease With Juice Feasting!

NEW 6-CD audio set reveals amazing new protocol for reversing cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and more. Click to learn more.

Own Health Ranger Report Podcasts on Audio CD

Own the first 8 Health Ranger Report audio programs on 6 CDs. Covers weight loss, ADHD, vaccinations, processed meats, bone health and more. Click to learn more.

Featured Videos

Short clip on Aspartame
A short clip on aspartame from the documentary All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...

Exclusive video on Aspartame
The dangers of aspartame! Exclusive interview footage from Cori Brackett of Sweet Remedy.
Click here to view now...

Exclusive Footage from All Jacked Up!
See interview footage featuring the Health Ranger in the upcoming junk food film, All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...

Drug Ad Parody
See the Health Ranger's satire parody of Merck's cholesterol drug ad.
Click here to view now...

Free Health Reports!

• Amazon Herb Company review
• The pH Nutrition Guide to Acid / Alkaline Balance
• Pet Food Ingredients Revealed! (shocking)
• Medicine From Fish
• The Water Cure
• The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D

Featured CounterThink Cartoons

How the Cancer Industry Controls Women


Adderall vs. Meth


HPV Vaccine Texas Tyranny


Health Product Companies We Recommend

Read recommendations on supplement companies, health food manufacturers and personal care product makers that you can trust. Our 100% independent review list tells you who to trust and who to avoid in the natural health industry. Click to read.
This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2008 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. Truth Publishing sells no health or nutritional products and earns no money from health product manufacturers or promoters. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.