Curiosity would be the key to maintaining a healthy and active mind over the years

According to recent research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) , curiosity could serve as a barrier to cognitive decline, thus contributing to a healthier path.

According to the experts in charge of the study, maintaining an interest in learning new things could play a fundamental role in brain health during aging .

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The research suggests that older adults who stay mentally active and are enthusiastic about exploring topics of interest may significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's.

“ Curiosity plays a key role in stimulating brain activity. It helps form new neural connections, improves learning and memory by activating the brain's reward system and promoting the release of dopamine ,” said Roger Albornoz, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at María Auxiliadora University (UMA) , quoted by the news agency 'Órbita'.

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The report emphasized the stages of curiosity: curiosity as a personality trait and state curiosity, which is a temporary response to certain stimuli. This was shown to have the most beneficial impact on older adults, even more so than curiosity as a general trait.

Curiosity as protection

For the research, the behavior of participants between 20 and 84 years of age was evaluated, with an average age of 44. At the end of the tests, it was found that curiosity tends to decrease with age, with state curiosity showing an upswing from middle age onwards .

This means that, as we age, people don't stop learning, but rather become more selective about what they want to learn . This shift in focus, in which older adults tend to concentrate more on meaningful topics, is believed to be a natural strategy of the brain to optimize its energy use and protect itself from cognitive decline.

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“ Maintaining curiosity in old age can counteract risks associated with dementia, as disinterest often signals early cognitive decline ,” the specialist commented.

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