Editor's Choice Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry Article Date: 29 May 2012 - 12:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Personality Traits May Determine How Long A Person Lives'

After evaluating the personalities of 243 individuals aged 100+ (centenarians), the team found that the majority shared similar personality traits, such as being optimistic, easygoing, outgoing, staying engaged in activities and enjoying laugher. These findings indicate that these types of traits may contribute to longevity.

The study is published online in the journal Aging. The researchers findings derive from Einstein's Longevity Genes Project, which includes more than 500 Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews aged 95+ as well as 700 of their children. The team selected Ashkenazi Jews as they are genetically homogeneous, this making it easier for the researchers to detect genetic variations.

Results from earlier studies have suggest that personality comes from underlying genetic mechanisms that may directly impact health. In this study, the team developed a brief measure (the Personality Outlook Profile Scale [POPS]) of personality in centenarians, in order to identify genetically-based personality characteristics of 243 centenarians.

Nir Barzilai, M.D., the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair of Aging Research, director of Einstein's Institute for Aging Research and co-corresponding author of the study, explained:

Furthermore, the team found that the centenarians had higher scores for being conscientious and lower scores for displaying neurotic personality compared with a representative sample of the U.S. population.

Dr. Barzilai said:

Written By Grace Rattue Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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Personality Traits May Determine How Long A Person Lives