HARNESS THE 5Super Brain Traits

Researchers have pinpointed 5 core personality traits central to everything from brain health to long-term happiness. Here, we explore each of these qualities and easy ways to maximize their strengths

- KRISTINA MASTROCOLA

THERE ARE SO MANY things about you that make you unique— perhaps you have a dry wit, or maybe you love ’80s movies. But when it comes to fundamental traits we all share, psychologists have identified the “Big Five”: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion (vs. introversion), agreeableness and neuroticism. It’s appropriate they're known by the acronym OCEAN because they have such a deep impact on our lives. Indeed, they can help predict everything from our risk of dementia to our overall success in life.

The great news is that the Big Five are not set in stone. We can accentuate those linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s, like conscientiousness, while decreasing those that may be holding us back, like neuroticism. And we don’t need to be a spring chicken to do it either.

“While it’s thought that younger people can make changes more easily, midlife presents another chance for positive shifts,” says neuroscience expert Dario Nardi, Ph.D. That’s because everything from preparing for retirement to becoming an empty-nester sets the stage for healthy change. Keep reading for empowering ways to tap your OCEAN qualities, as well as simple tips proven to boost your brain and unleash your true potential.

1 FOSTER OPENNESS WITH A 'SOJOURN'

The first of the OCEAN traits means just what its name implies: the willingness to embrace new ideas. It sounds simple, but it's tied to greater perseverance and a lower risk of dementia, according to a study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. That's largely because when we challenge ourselves to adapt to novel situations, our brain lights up like Times Square.

A fun way to foster this mindset is by tapping the “sojourner effect,” says Olga Khazan, author of