Do Extroverts Stay Sharp Longer? Introverts Critique the News
Astute New York Times readers challenged a report on extroverted “super-agers” keeping their minds sharp longer than introverts.
Last month, an article in the New York Times discussed research by Northwestern University scientists on a group they dubbed “super-agers,” people over 80 whose memory abilities remain at a level typical of folks 20 to 30 years younger. They don’t share the same eating or exercise regimen, but they all put a priority on social relationships. According to the article, their frequent socializing neurologically helps protect their brains from cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. “Personality wise, they tend to be on the extroverted side,” added one of the researchers.
As I read the extensive comments readers had posted, I couldn’t help but smile. Comment after comment suggested angles that disagreed with the interpretations of the study or questioned the research itself. Reading, I was watching smart, well-informed, skeptical introverts in action – more than a thousand of them.
Among the objections readers brought up, I would single out these:
According to the article, scientists were reasoning that socializing combats loneliness, something which is “particularly common in older adults” and which raises the level of stress hormones, which in turn can damage brain cells and bring on dementia. Readers pointed out that for introverts, forced or unwanted socializing raises stress levels. For introverts, less social contact along with involvement in chosen, less social hobbies might therefore be the road to a healthier brain.
Were introverts proportionately involved in the study? Some readers proposed that introverts might be less likely to agree to the intrusiveness and repeated contacts required by this kind of long-term study. Selection bias might thus account for extroverts seeming to have a longevity advantage. One commenter said his father, “very much an introvert,” balked at joining this type of research because he found it too stressful.
Did the researchers undertake the research with a theory already in mind? When the article called loneliness stressful and failed to distinguish between chosen and unchosen apartness, this raised suspicions in the minds of introverted readers who felt happy living alone and having just the minimal level of social interchange that they preferred.
Contrary to the socializers profiled in the article, some readers recounted anecdotes about themselves or a parent finally after 70 or 80 getting to have the solitude they most enjoyed and feeling fulfilled and on the ball as a result. Was it fair for the research report to ignore such cases?
A reader observed that his preference to avoid socializing most of the time made him happy but took a big toll on his wife. This conflict was a big source of stress for both of them, he said.
Someone else pointed out that accompanying the article were ads for “memory brain health pills.” I hadn’t noticed that! Might there then be a monetary incentive for articles like the one in question?
There were many variations on this theme, commenting on the comments: “It is so comforting hearing about happy introverts living long contented lives, proving there is more than one way to be happy.”
A couple of people reminded other readers that scientists quoted in the article thought there probably was a genetic component to the purported cognitive advantage of the extroverts. In that case, purposely staying socially active when that wasn’t one’s inborn preference wouldn’t necessarily have a protective effect.
Many of the reader replies showed wit or irony, like this one: “Another report making me feel isolated for finding strength in being alone. I guess I shouldn’t be doing fine at 86 years of age, having enjoyed being alone more than with people.”
A good many comments cited the solitary, mind-sharpening pleasures that they enjoyed: gardening, watching foreign films, bird watching, viewing art, tackling tough crossword puzzles, learning through courses and so on. Why would such activities not equally stave off cognitive decline?
I particularly liked this point: “Some of my friends whose insta pages portray them singing, dancing and socializing with abandon are actually terrified by the idea of a weekend on their own. To really thrive and enjoy life, surely the first step is to enjoy your own company?”
My absolute favorite observation noted that most of the comments came from introverts. “Reading the Times and disputing articles in the comments section is one of our introverted passions.” This made me wonder whether joining in on such critiques isn’t actually an introverted version of enjoying community.