Chicago, Ill., Oct 3, 2007 / 08:44 am
Scientists have been searching for ways to unveil many of the mysteries surrounding Alzheimer's disease for decades. A group of researchers from the University of Chicago who chose to look at a group of almost 1,000 nuns, priests, and monks found that those who were the most conscientious had the lowest chance of developing the disease.
Interestingly, the scientists found that being conscientious might make people better able to cope with plaques that build up in the brain and are believed to lead to the disease.
In the study, “conscientiousness” refers to a person's tendency to control impulses and be goal-directed, and is also known as will, work and dependability, according to background information in the article.
The latest study followed a group of nuns, monks and priests from across the United States over a period of 12 years. They were chosen as a group because they were deemed more likely to be willing to take part in a study that might help others in the future, but not themselves.