Overview

• A study published in PLOS One finds that while overall inquisitiveness (trait curiosity) declines with age, interest in specific topics (state curiosity) rises sharply after middle age.
• The research, involving 1,200 participants aged 20 to 84, challenges prior assumptions that curiosity uniformly decreases with age.
• State curiosity, which focuses on personally meaningful topics, aligns with selectivity theory and may help counter cognitive decline in older adults.
• Researchers suggest that fostering curiosity through hobbies, learning, and social engagement could protect against dementia and enhance brain health.
• The findings, led by UCLA's Alan Castel and Mary Whatley, are gaining attention for their implications in lifelong learning and dementia prevention strategies.