Does attachment get under our skin? Midlife attachment style predicts mild cognitive impairment and cumulative deficit frailty in old age.
Abstract
Poor social relations of older adults have been linked to cognitive decline, dementia risk, morbidity and mortality. However, this history of poor social relations may have started earlier in life and may be related to personality traits. Here we investigate how attachment style, a personality trait, can function as a protective factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and overall health. Specifically, we evaluated whether attachment style at midlife predicted two types of frailty in early old age: cognitive frailty and cumulative deficit frailty. Furthermore, to better understand these pathways, we have investigated several mediators: perceived stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, doctor visits, and social isolation.
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Research summary
The paper explores the relationship between midlife attachment style and its predictive value for cognitive frailty and cumulative deficit frailty in old age, which is relevant to understanding factors that may influence aging and longevity. However, the focus on personality traits and social relations as mediators does not directly address root causes of aging or lifespan extension. The findings may contribute to the field of aging research, but they do so in a limited manner, making it a solid but not groundbreaking contribution.
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