New metabolomics study traces the path from neurotic

Anxious and easily stressed individuals face an elevated risk of developing dementia. New research suggests a biological reason behind this link: highly neurotic people tend to have fewer protective omega-3 fatty acids running through their bloodstream.

Individuals who score high in the personality trait of neuroticism have an elevated risk of developing dementia later in life, and recent research points to an imbalance of circulating fatty acids as a potential explanation. A large study of midlife adults suggests that neurotic tendencies are linked to lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which in turn relates to vascular damage in the brain and a higher likelihood of cognitive decline. The findings were published in the

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Journal of Affective Disorders . Neuroticism is a fundamental personality trait describing a person’s tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, worry, and irritability in response to stress. Health researchers have consistently linked high levels of this trait to various physical and mental health challenges. Over the past decade, observational evidence has emerged tying higher neuroticism to an increased chance of developing dementia. The biological pathways connecting a personality trait to a degenerative brain condition remain poorly understood. Experts suspect an indirect route involving cardiovascular health. Neuroticism is known to correlate with negative lifestyle choices that gradually degrade heart health over a person’s lifespan. Notably, high neuroticism is more strongly associated with vascular dementia, which stems from reduced blood flow to the brain, than...

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