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Sutin AR, Gamaldo AA, Terracciano A, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. Personality and cognitive errors in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2024; 109:104449. [PMID: 38312326 PMCID: PMC10836197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
This study examines the association between personality and cognitive errors in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study, a sample diverse across race (Black, White) and SES (above, below 125% of the federal poverty line). Participants (N=1,062) completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire and were administered a brief mental status screener of cognitive errors. Higher neuroticism was associated with more cognitive errors, whereas higher openness and conscientiousness were associated with fewer errors. These associations were independent of age, sex, race, poverty status, and education and were generally not moderated by these factors. These findings support the associations between personality and cognition across race and SES.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alyssa A. Gamaldo
- Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
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2
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Marcolini S, Frentz I, Terracciano A, De Deyn PP. Association of personality facets and cognition in the Lifelines population-based cohort study. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 168:30-37. [PMID: 37875035 PMCID: PMC10956640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Personality traits have been associated with cognitive functioning and risk of cognitive decline. Fewer studies have investigated how personality facets are associated with cognition in large cohorts with a prospective design. METHODS The association between eight personality facets and cognition (speed measures reflecting psychomotor speed and visual attention; hit rate measures reflecting visual learning and working memory) was analyzed in middle-aged adults from the Lifelines cohort (N = 79911; age 43 ± 11 years). RESULTS High hostility, high vulnerability, low excitement seeking, and low competence were associated with worse cognitive performance on all tasks. Impulsivity-related facets had weak and differential associations, with self-discipline negatively associated with accuracy and deliberation negatively associated with speed. These associations remained largely unchanged when accounting for lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity). The associations with cognition were stronger in older people for impulsiveness, deliberation, and hostility, while stronger in younger people for excitement seeking, self-discipline, and vulnerability. CONCLUSION In a large population-based sample with a broad age range, the associations of personality facets with cognitive functioning had small effect sizes, were independent of lifestyle factors, and varied with age and among facets within the same personality domain. These findings highlight the importance of developmental stages and facet-level research in personality-cognition associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Marcolini
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ingeborg Frentz
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Peter Paul De Deyn
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Experimental Neurobiology Unit, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
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3
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Lawson KM, Sutin AR, Atherton OE, Robins RW. Are trajectories of personality and socioeconomic factors prospectively associated with midlife cognitive function? Findings from a 12-year longitudinal study of Mexican-origin adults. Psychol Aging 2023; 38:749-762. [PMID: 37326565 PMCID: PMC10721735 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Problems with memory, executive function, and language are a significant public health concern, especially when they begin during midlife. However, there is relatively little work on risk and protective factors for cognitive function in middle adulthood. Using data from 883 Mexican-origin adults assessed up to 6 times across 12 years (Mage at Time 1 = 38.2 years; range = 27-63 years), the present study examined whether developmental trajectories (levels and slopes) of Big Five personality domains and socioeconomic factors (per capita income, economic stress) were prospectively associated with cognitive function (memory, mental status, verbal fluency) at the final assessment. We found that individuals with higher levels of, and smaller decreases in, Neuroticism had worse cognitive function 12 years later. Further, individuals with higher initial Conscientiousness had better subsequent memory, mental status, and verbal fluency, and individuals with higher Openness and Extraversion had better subsequent verbal fluency (but not memory or mental status). The trajectories of per capita income and economic stress were robustly associated with cognitive function, such that higher initial levels and greater increases in socioeconomic resources had protective associations, whereas higher levels and greater increases in economic stress had deleterious associations with cognitive function. Higher education level was associated with better cognitive function 12 years later. These findings suggest that changes in personality and socioeconomic factors across adulthood are associated with cognitive function, which may be informative for interventions to support healthier cognitive aging starting at least as early as midlife. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Terracciano A, Walker K, An Y, Luchetti M, Stephan Y, Moghekar AR, Sutin AR, Ferrucci L, Resnick SM. The association between personality and plasma biomarkers of astrogliosis and neuronal injury. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 128:65-73. [PMID: 37210782 PMCID: PMC10247521 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Personality traits have been associated with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology, including amyloid and tau. This study examines whether personality traits are concurrently related to plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrogliosis, and neurofilament light (NfL), a marker of neuronal injury. Cognitively unimpaired participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 786; age: 22-95) were assayed for plasma GFAP and NfL and completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, which measures 5 domains and 30 facets of personality. Neuroticism (particularly vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and depression) was associated with higher GFAP and NfL. Conscientiousness was associated with lower GFAP. Extraversion (particularly positive emotions, assertiveness, and activity) was related to lower GFAP and NfL. These associations were independent of demographic, behavioral, and health covariates and not moderated by age, sex, or apolipoprotein E genotype. The personality correlates of astrogliosis and neuronal injury tend to be similar, are found in individuals without cognitive impairment, and point to potential neurobiological underpinnings of the association between personality traits and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Terracciano
- Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Keenan Walker
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yang An
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martina Luchetti
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Abhay R Moghekar
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Angelina R Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Fleischmann E, Dalkner N, Fellendorf FT, Bengesser SA, Lenger M, Birner A, Queissner R, Platzer M, Tmava-Berisha A, Maget A, Wagner-Skacel J, Stross T, Schmiedhofer F, Smolle S, Painold A, Reininghaus EZ. The Big Five as Predictors of Cognitive Function in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050773. [PMID: 37239245 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The connection between cognitive function and the "Big Five" personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) in the general population is well known; however, studies researching bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the Big Five as predictors of executive function, verbal memory, attention, and processing speed in euthymic individuals with BD (cross-sectional: n = 129, including time point t1; longitudinal: n = 35, including t1 and t2). Participants completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Color and Word Interference Test, the Trail Making Test, the d2 Test of Attention Revised, and the California Verbal Learning Test. The results showed a significant negative correlation between executive function and neuroticism at t1. Changes in cognitive function between t1 and t2 did not correlate with and could not be predicted by the Big Five at t1. Additionally, worse executive function at t2 was predicted by higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness at t1, and high neuroticism was a predictor of worse verbal memory at t2. The Big Five might not strongly impact cognitive function over short periods; however, they are significant predictors of cognitive function. Future studies should include a higher number of participants and more time in between points of measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Fleischmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Nina Dalkner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Frederike T Fellendorf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Susanne A Bengesser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Melanie Lenger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Armin Birner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Robert Queissner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Martina Platzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Adelina Tmava-Berisha
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Alexander Maget
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Jolana Wagner-Skacel
- Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Tatjana Stross
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Franziska Schmiedhofer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Stefan Smolle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Annamaria Painold
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Eva Z Reininghaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Styria, Austria
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Fazeli PL, Cheatwood JD, Hopkins C, Vance DE, Shirey MR, Azuero A, Crowe M. Association between personality and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2023; 30:279-288. [PMID: 34167406 PMCID: PMC9045538 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2021.1935954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly half of adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), characterized by cognitive impairments in two or more cognitive domains, which can interfere with everyday functioning. Many factors are thought to influence such cognitive impairments in adults with HIV; one factor seldom examined is personality. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the association between five major dimensions of personality (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) and cognitive function in older adults with HIV. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a secondary data analysis was conducted on 261 HIV + participants. Participants completed a norm-based cognitive battery covering seven cognitive domains, which yielded the following indices: global cognitive impairment, and global and domain-specific T-scores. The Big Five Inventory was used to assess personality traits. RESULTS Higher openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were associated with better performance on individual cognitive domains while agreeableness and openness were also positively associated with global cognitive T-scores (p < .01). Only openness significantly predicted global cognition when adjusting for covariates (p < .01). DISCUSSION Openness was associated with better global cognitive function in persons with HIV. This study provides a basis for further investigation of potential mechanisms for the association between personality and cognition in people with HIV in order to ultimately inform intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pariya L. Fazeli
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - John D. Cheatwood
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Cierra Hopkins
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - David E. Vance
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Maria R. Shirey
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Andres Azuero
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Michael Crowe
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
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Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Sesker AA, Zhu X, Stephan Y, Terracciano A. Five-Factor Model Personality Domains and Facets Associated with Markers of Cognitive Health. JOURNAL OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023; 44:97-108. [PMID: 37214235 PMCID: PMC10195061 DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Using a diverse, age-stratified sample (N=3,478; age range 18-90) this study examines the cross-sectional association between five-factor model personality traits - domains and facets - and three measures of cognitive health - processing speed, visuospatial ability, subjective memory - and whether these associations vary by age, race, and ethnicity. Consistent with the literature on personality and cognitive health, higher openness and conscientiousness were associated with better cognitive performance and subjective memory, whereas higher neuroticism was associated with slower processing speed and worse subjective memory but was unrelated to visuospatial ability. Moderation analyses suggested some associations were stronger in midlife compared to younger and older adulthood but were generally similar across race and ethnicity. The facet-level analyses indicated the components of each domain most strongly associated with cognitive function (e.g., the responsibility facet of conscientiousness) and suggested some differences across facets within the same domain (e.g., depression was associated with worse performance, whereas anxiety was unrelated to performance; sociability was the only facet of extraversion associated with worse performance). The present research is consistent with the larger literature on personality and cognition and extends it by documenting similarities and differences across facets and demographic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xianghe Zhu
- Florida State University College of Medicine
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8
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Sutin AR, Brown J, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Stephan Y, Terracciano A. Five-Factor Model Personality Traits and the Trajectory of Episodic Memory: Individual-Participant Meta-Analysis of 471,821 Memory Assessments from 120,640 Participants. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:421-433. [PMID: 36179266 PMCID: PMC9985335 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbac154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Five-factor model (FFM) personality traits are associated with concurrent memory function and risk of incident dementia but are less consistently associated with the change in episodic memory. The present research analyzes multiple large-scale studies with a consistent analytic approach to evaluate the association between personality and change in episodic memory over time. METHOD Across nine public longitudinal data sets, 120,640 participants provided 471,821 memory assessments over up to 26 years (age range 18-108). FFM traits were tested as predictors of the average level (intercept) and change over time (slope) of episodic memory. Results from the individual samples were meta-analyzed to summarize the associations. RESULTS Consistent with expectations for the intercept, higher neuroticism was associated with worse memory performance, whereas higher openness and conscientiousness were associated with better performance; extraversion and agreeableness were also associated with better performance. Higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were related to declines in memory only in samples with more than two assessments of memory. The other three traits were unrelated to memory slope. The pattern was similar when participants with dementia were excluded from the analysis, and the association with the slope was not moderated by age. DISCUSSION FFM traits have a robust association with average memory performance. Higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were associated with declines in memory performance only among samples with more than two memory assessments. The heterogeneity across studies suggests that multiple memory assessments are needed to reliably detect change over time, which may be one reason for past inconsistencies across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina R Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Justin Brown
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Martina Luchetti
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Damaris Aschwanden
- Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Yannick Stephan
- Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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Stephan Y, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Terracciano A. The mediating role of Vitamin D in the association between personality and memory: Evidence from two samples. Biol Psychol 2023; 178:108525. [PMID: 36806675 PMCID: PMC10106409 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits are consistently related to cognition in old age. However, little is known about the biological mediators of this association. The present study examined whether levels of Vitamin D mediated the association between personality and memory. Participants were adults aged 50-96 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N = 5229) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, N = 4249). In HRS, personality and demographic factors were assessed in 2012/2014, Vitamin D was assessed in 2016, and memory was assessed in 2018. In ELSA, personality and demographic factors were obtained in 2010/2011, Vitamin D was measured in 2012/2013, and memory was assessed in 2014/2015. In both samples, higher extraversion and conscientiousness were related to higher levels of Vitamin D, whereas higher neuroticism was related to lower Vitamin D. In both samples, higher Vitamin D partly mediated the association between both higher extraversion and conscientiousness and better memory. The association between higher neuroticism and worse memory at follow-up was partially mediated by lower Vitamin D in the HRS and ELSA. Vitamin D did not mediate the association between higher openness and better memory. The present study extends the personality-cognition literature by providing new replicable evidence that Vitamin D is a biological mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelina R Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
| | - Martina Luchetti
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
| | - Damaris Aschwanden
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
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Kekäläinen T, Terracciano A, Tirkkonen A, Savikangas T, Hänninen T, Neely AS, Sipilä S, Kokko K. Does Personality Moderate the Efficacy of Physical and Cognitive Training Interventions? A 12-month Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023; 202:111957. [PMID: 36776733 PMCID: PMC9912828 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated whether personality traits moderate the effects of a 12-month physical or combined physical and cognitive training interventions on physical and cognitive functioning. Participants were community-dwelling 70-85-year-old adults (n=314). They were randomly assigned to physical training (weekly supervised walking/balance and strength/balance training, home exercises 2-3x/wk and moderate aerobic activity) or to a physical and cognitive training group (the same physical training and computer training on executive functions 3-4x/wk). The outcomes assessed at baseline and post-intervention were physical (maximum gait speed, six-minute walking distance, dual-task cost on gait speed) and cognitive functioning (Stroop, Trail-Making Test-B, verbal fluency, CERAD total score). Personality traits (NEO-PI-3, n=239) were assessed post-intervention. Personality traits did not moderate intervention effects on physical functioning. Higher openness was associated with greater improvement in CERAD scores, especially in the physical and cognitive training group (group×time×trait B=-.08, p=.038). Lower neuroticism (time×trait B=-.04, p=.021) and higher conscientiousness (time×trait B=.04, p=.027) were associated with greater improvement in CERAD scores in both groups. Personality traits had mostly null moderating effects across physical and cognitive outcomes, with the possible exception of CERAD score. Individuals with more adaptive personality traits gained more on global cognitive scores during a 12-month training intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiia Kekäläinen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Anna Tirkkonen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tiina Savikangas
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tuomo Hänninen
- NeuroCenter, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anna Stigsdotter Neely
- Department of Social and Psychological Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden,Engineering Psychology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Sarianna Sipilä
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Katja Kokko
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
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11
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Jones EC, Holleman Jones E, McNally S, Sarles Whittlesey H, Surprenant B, Campbell I, Oshri A, Sweet LH. Associations between anxiety, centromedial amygdala volume, and complex verbal fluency in middle-aged to older adults. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2022; 44:730-742. [PMID: 36888757 PMCID: PMC9995745 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2023.2173149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Symptoms of anxiety are related to decreases in cognitive performance in middle-aged to older adults (i.e., ages 50 and older; MOA). Verbal fluency (VF), assessed with the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Category Switching (VF-CS) task, captures elements of executive function such as semantic memory, response initiation and inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. The present study examined the link between anxiety symptoms and VF-CS to better understand how this association affects such executive functions in MOA. We hypothesized that higher subclinical Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores would be associated with lower VF-CS. To further investigate the underlying neurobiological basis of an expected inverse relationship, total amygdala volume, centromedial amygdala (CMA) volume, and basolateral amygdala (BLA) volume were examined as they related to VF-CS scores on the D-KEFS. Based on extant research on connectivity and functioning between the CMA and BLA, we hypothesized that larger BLA volumes would be associated with lower anxiety scores and exhibit positive relationships with VF-CS. A sample of 63 MOA were recruited from the Providence, Rhode Island area as a part of a parent study on cardiovascular diseases. Participants completed self-report measures about physical and emotional health, a neuropsychological assessment, and a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI). Multiple hierarchical regressions were performed to examine relationships between variables of interest. Contrary to hypotheses, no significant relationship emerged between VF-CS and BAI scores, and BLA volume was not associated with either BAI scores or VF-CS. However, a significant positive relationship was observed between CMA volume and VF-CS. The significant relationship found between CMA and VF-CS may reflect the upward slope of the quadratic relationship between arousal and cognitive performance on the Yerkes-Dodson curve. These findings newly implicate CMA volume specifically as a possible neuromarker linking emotional arousal and cognitive performance in MOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Jones
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Shannon McNally
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Britni Surprenant
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ivan Campbell
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Assaf Oshri
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Lawrence H Sweet
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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12
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de Vroege L, Woudstra-de Jong JE, Videler AC, Kop WJ. Personality factors and cognitive functioning in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders. J Psychosom Res 2022; 163:111067. [PMID: 36332534 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD) are often complicated by cognitive symptoms, including reduced information processing speed, memory, and planning. Depression has been related to poor cognitive functioning in SSRD, but the role of underlying personality factors is poorly understood. This study investigates the association between personality factors (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) with cognitive functioning in patients with SSRD. METHODS Data from 366 patients with SSRD from a tertiary care expert center (mean age = 42.1 years (SD = 13.4), 59.6% women) were analyzed using a cross-sectional design. Neuropsychological assessments included measures of information processing speed, memory, attention, and executive function. Personality factors were assessed using the NEO-FFI and depressive symptoms using the PHQ-9. RESULTS Regression analyses showed associations between neuroticism with poorer performance on visual memory (B = -0.09, SE = 0.04, β = -0.14, p = .019), and planning (B = -0.09. SE = 0.02, β = -0.23, p < .001). Extraversion was also inversely associated with visual memory (B = -0.13, SE = 0.05, β = -0.18, p = .011) and planning (B = -0.07, SE = 0.03, β = -0.17, p = .021) and openness was associated with better visual memory (B = 0.17, SE = 0.05, β = 0.19, p = .002). These associations were attenuated but remained significant after adjusting for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION Neuroticism, extraversion, and low openness were associated with lower cognitive functioning (particularly planning and visual memory) in patients with SSRD, which remained significant after taking depressive symptoms into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars de Vroege
- Department Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Clinical Centre of Excellence for Body, Mind and Health, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
| | - Jarinne E Woudstra-de Jong
- Department Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Arjan C Videler
- Department Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Clinical Centre of Excellence for Body, Mind and Health, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands; PersonaCura, Clinical Center of Excellence for Personality Disorders and Autism in Older Adults, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
| | - Willem J Kop
- Clinical Centre of Excellence for Body, Mind and Health, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological disorders and Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
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Stephan Y, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Terracciano A. IQ in Adolescence and Cognition over 50 years later: The Mediating Role of Adult Personality. INTELLIGENCE 2022; 94:101682. [PMID: 36816630 PMCID: PMC9937542 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2022.101682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
There is substantial evidence for the association between higher early life IQ and better cognition in late life. To advance knowledge on potential pathways, the present study tested whether Five-Factor Model personality traits in adulthood mediate the association between adolescent IQ and later-life cognition. Participants were from the Graduate sample of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study on Aging (WLS; N= 3,585). IQ was assessed in 1957 (about age 17), personality was assessed in 2003-2005 (age = 64), and cognition was assessed in 2011 (age = 71). Controlling for demographic factors, higher IQ in adolescence was related to higher openness, lower neuroticism, lower extraversion, lower agreeableness and lower conscientiousness in adulthood. Higher openness partially mediated the association between higher IQ and better cognition. Additional analyses indicated that the pattern of associations between IQ, personality and cognition was similar when the polygenic score for cognition was included as an additional covariate. Although effect size were small, this study provides new evidence that openness in adulthood is on the pathway between early life IQ and later-life cognition.
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14
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Luchetti M, Strickhouser JE, Aschwanden D, Terracciano A. The Association Between Five Factor Model Personality Traits and Verbal and Numeric Reasoning. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2022; 29:297-317. [PMID: 33465008 PMCID: PMC8286974 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2021.1872481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Five-factor model (FFM) personality traits are related to basic cognitive functions and risk of cognitive impairment in late life. The present study addresses whether FFM traits are also associated with a more complex cognitive function, reasoning, across adulthood. We used seven samples to examine the relation between personality and verbal (total N= 39,177) and numeric (total N= 76,388) reasoning. A meta-analysis indicated higher Neuroticism was associated modestly with worse performance on verbal and numeric reasoning tasks. Openness was associated with better verbal reasoning and was unrelated to numeric reasoning. Surprisingly, Extraversion was associated modestly with worse performance in both domains, and Conscientiousness was essentially unrelated to reasoning. Agreeableness was unrelated to reasoning. There was significant heterogeneity across the samples but only limited evidence for moderation by age or sex. Consistent with other cognitive domains, the results suggested that Neuroticism is related to worse performance globally, whereas Openness tends to be associated with better verbal abilities. Among the unexpected findings was the better reasoning of introverts. The pattern also suggests that the common positive association between Conscientiousness and cognition does not extend to reasoning and suggests that Conscientiousness may support healthier cognitive aging through basic cognitive functions rather than through complex functions like reasoning.
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15
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Kever A, Walker EL, Riley CS, Heyman RA, Xia Z, Leavitt VM. Association of personality traits with physical function, cognition, and mood in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 59:103648. [PMID: 35134623 PMCID: PMC8986589 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing literature supports the hypothesis that personality influences health outcomes. Few studies have examined the association between personality traits and key clinical manifestations in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). OBJECTIVE To investigate whether personality traits are associated with physical function, cognition, and depression in persons with MS. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from two cohorts (UPMC, n = 365 and CUIMC, n = 129). Participants completed a personality scale (assessing neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and validated surveys measuring physical function, cognition, and depression. Stepwise linear regressions were used to evaluate associations between personality traits and outcome measures. RESULTS Consistently across cohorts, higher extraversion was associated with better physical function, whereas higher neuroticism was associated with worse depression. In the first cohort, higher extraversion was associated with better cognition, while higher neuroticism was associated with greater risk for memory impairment in the second cohort. Relationships were independent of age and disease duration. CONCLUSION Findings suggest a potentially protective role of extraversion, and a harmful role of neuroticism, in MS-specific patient-reported clinical outcomes. Increased understanding of the interplay between personality and health outcomes may inform risk models for physical decline, cognitive impairment, and depression in pwMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kever
- Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032 NY, USA
| | | | - Claire S. Riley
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032 NY, USA
| | - Rock A. Heyman
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260 PA, USA
| | - Zongqi Xia
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260 PA, USA
| | - Victoria M. Leavitt
- Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032 NY, USA.,Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032 NY, USA
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16
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The association between purpose/meaning in life and verbal fluency and episodic memory: a meta-analysis of >140,000 participants from up to 32 countries. Int Psychogeriatr 2022; 34:263-273. [PMID: 33612145 PMCID: PMC8380267 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610220004214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Feelings of purpose and meaning in life are protective against consequential cognitive outcomes, including reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Purpose and meaning are likely to also be associated with cognitive functions on the pathway to dementia. The objective of the current research was to test whether both purpose in life and meaning in life are associated with higher verbal fluency and better episodic memory and whether these associations varied by sociodemographic characteristics or economic characteristics of the country. DESIGN Prospective meta-analysis of cross-sectional associations based on individual participant data. SETTING Established cohort studies with measures of either purpose in life or meaning in life and verbal fluency and episodic memory. PARTICIPANTS Across the cohorts, there were over 140,000 participants from 32 countries from North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. RESULTS The meta-analysis indicated that purpose and meaning were associated with better performance on both the verbal fluency (meta-analytic partial r = .098, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .080, .116, p < .001) and episodic memory (r = .117, 95% CI = .100, .135, p < .001) task and that these associations were similar across measures of purpose in life and meaning in life. There was modest evidence that these associations were slightly stronger in relatively lower-income countries, and there was less consistent evidence that they varied by age, gender, or education. DISCUSSION These findings indicate a robust association between purpose/meaning and both verbal fluency and episodic memory across demographic groups and cultural context. Purpose/meaning may be a useful target of intervention for healthier cognitive aging.
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Mroczek DK, Weston SJ, Graham EK, Willroth EC. Data overuse in aging research: Emerging issues and potential solutions. Psychol Aging 2022; 37:141-147. [PMID: 33914579 PMCID: PMC8553804 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Aging and lifespan development researchers have been fortunate to have public access to many longitudinal datasets. These data are valuable and see high utilization, yet this has a considerable downside. Many of these are heavily overused. Overuse of publicly available datasets creates dependency among published research papers giving the false impression of independent contributions to knowledge by reporting the same associations over multiple papers. This is a potentially serious problem in the aging literature given the high use of a relatively small number of well-known studies. Any irregularities or sampling biases in this relatively small number of samples have outsize influence on perceived answers to key aging questions. We detail this problem, focusing on issues of dependency among studies, sampling bias and overfitting, and contradictory estimates of the same effect from the same data in independent publications. We provide solutions, including greater use of data sharing, pre-registrations, holdout samples, split-sample cross-validation, and coordinated analysis. We argue these valuable datasets are public resources that are being diminished by overuse, with parallels in environmental science. Taking a conservation perspective, we hold that these practices (pre-registration, holdout samples) can preserve data resources for future generations of researchers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K. Mroczek
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept. of Medical Social Sciences
- Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, Dept. of Psychology
| | | | - Eileen K. Graham
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept. of Medical Social Sciences
| | - Emily C. Willroth
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept. of Medical Social Sciences
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18
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Cognition and the development of temperament from late childhood to early adolescence. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2022; 95. [PMID: 35027777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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19
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Stieger M, Liu Y, Graham EK, DeFrancisco J, Lachman ME. Personality Change Profiles and Changes in Cognition Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2021; 95. [PMID: 34949898 DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Research on the relationship between personality traits and cognitive abilities has primarily used cross-sectional designs and considered personality traits individually in relation to cognitive dimensions. This study (N = 2,652) examined the relationship between Big Five personality change profiles and change in cognitive factors, episodic memory and executive functioning. Latent profile analysis was used to capture patterns of change across the Big Five traits. Three profiles of personality change were defined: Decreasers, Maintainers, and Increasers. The Decreasers declined more in episodic memory compared to the Increasers and Maintainers. Also, the Decreasers declined more in executive functioning compared to the Increasers, but not the Maintainers. The findings advance our understanding of the links between patterns of personality change and cognitive aging.
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20
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Stephan Y, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Terracciano A. Subjective age and verbal fluency among middle aged and older adults: A meta-analysis of five cohorts. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2021; 97:104527. [PMID: 34534857 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine the relation between subjective age and verbal fluency in five large samples of older adults to advance knowledge on the role of subjective age in a complex cognitive function that is an intermediate marker of cognitive impairment and dementia risk. METHODS Participants (N > 27,000), aged 32 to 99 years old, predominantly white, were from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Graduate (WLSG) and Siblings (WLSS) samples, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). They provided complete data on subjective age, demographic factors and verbal fluency. Estimates from each sample were combined in a meta-analysis. RESULTS Across each of the five samples and in the meta-analysis, an older subjective age was related to lower performance on the verbal fluency task. This association was independent of chronological age and was not moderated by age, sex, nor education. The difference in fluency between individuals with an older and younger subjective age ranged from d = 0.09 to d = 0.37 across the five samples. CONCLUSIONS This study found replicable evidence for an association between an older subjective age and lower verbal fluency, extending knowledge about an intermediate marker of cognitive function.
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21
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Rozgonjuk D, Schmitz F, Kannen C, Montag C. Cognitive ability and personality: Testing broad to nuanced associations with a smartphone app. INTELLIGENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2021.101578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Thielmann I, Moshagen M, Hilbig B, Zettler I. On the Comparability of Basic Personality Models: Meta-Analytic Correspondence, Scope, and Orthogonality of the Big Five and HEXACO Dimensions. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/08902070211026793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Models of basic personality structure are among the most widely used frameworks in psychology and beyond, and they have considerably advanced the understanding of individual differences in a plethora of consequential outcomes. Over the past decades, two such models have become most widely used: the Five Factor Model (FFM) or Big Five, respectively, and the HEXACO Model of Personality. However, there is no large-scale empirical evidence on the general comparability of these models. Here, we provide the first comprehensive meta-analysis on (a) the correspondence of the FFM/Big Five and HEXACO dimensions, (b) the scope of trait content the models cover, and (c) the orthogonality (i.e., degree of independence) of dimensions within the models. Results based on 152 (published and unpublished) samples and 6,828 unique effects showed that the HEXACO dimensions incorporate notable conceptual differences compared to the FFM/Big Five dimensions, resulting in a broader coverage of the personality space and less redundancy between dimensions. Moreover, moderator analyses revealed substantial differences between operationalizations of the FFM/Big Five. Taken together, these findings have important theoretical and practical implications for the understanding of basic personality dimensions and their assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Thielmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | | | - BenjaminE. Hilbig
- Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Ingo Zettler
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Graham EK, James BD, Jackson KL, Willroth EC, Luo J, Beam CR, Pedersen NL, Reynolds CA, Katz M, Lipton RB, Boyle P, Wilson R, Bennett DA, Mroczek DK. A coordinated analysis of the associations among personality traits, cognitive decline, and dementia in older adulthood. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2021; 92:104100. [PMID: 34083845 PMCID: PMC8168939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
There are individual differences in the rates of cognitive decline across later adulthood. Personality traits are among the factors that may account for these differences. The current project investigated whether personality traits were associated with trajectories of cognitive decline, and whether the associations were different before and after dementia diagnosis. The data was analyzed using linear mixed effects regression. Across study aims is a focus on replicability and generalizability. Each question was addressed in four independent longitudinal studies (EAS, MAP, ROS, SATSA), then meta-analyzed, providing estimates of replicability. Results indicated that low neuroticism and high openness were associated with total cognitive function. We detected evidence for cognitive decline in all four samples, and openness was associated with decline post dementia diagnosis.
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Sesker AA, O’Súilleabháin PS, Terracciano A. Self-reported and mother-rated personality traits at age 16 are associated with cognitive function measured concurrently and 30 years later. Psychol Med 2021; 52:1-11. [PMID: 33706817 PMCID: PMC8435053 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721000672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Models of personality and health suggest that personality contributes to health outcomes across adulthood. Personality traits, such as neuroticism and conscientiousness, have long-term predictive power for cognitive impairment in older adulthood, a critical health outcome. Less is known about whether personality measured earlier in life is also associated with cognition across adulthood prior to dementia. METHODS Using data from the British Cohort Study 1970 (N = 4218; 58% female), the current research examined the relation between self-reported and mother-rated personality at age 16 and cognitive function concurrently at age 16 and cognitive function measured 30 years later at age 46, and whether these traits mediate the relation between childhood social class and midlife cognition. RESULTS Self-reported and mother-rated conscientiousness at age 16 were each associated with every cognitive measure at age 16 and most measures at age 46. Self-reported openness was likewise associated with better cognitive performance on all tasks at age 16 and prospectively predicted age 46 performance (mothers did not rate openness). Mother-rated agreeableness, but not self-reported, was associated with better cognitive performance at both time points. Adolescent personality mediated the relation between childhood social class and midlife cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS The current study advances personality and cognition by showing that (1) adolescent personality predicts midlife cognition 30 years later, (2) both self-reports and mother-ratings are important sources of information on personality associated with midlife cognition, and (3) adolescent personality may be one pathway through which the early life socioeconomic environment is associated with midlife cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Páraic S. O’Súilleabháin
- Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Zufferey V, Gunten AV, Kherif F. Interactions between Personality, Depression, Anxiety and Cognition to Understand Early Stage of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:782-791. [PMID: 32066361 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200211110545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The multifaceted nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can lead to wide inter-individual differences in disease manifestation in terms of brain pathology and cognition. The lack of understanding of phenotypic diversity in AD arises from a difficulty in understanding the integration of different levels of network organization (i.e. genes, neurons, synapses, anatomical regions, functions) and in inclusion of other information such as neuropsychiatric characteristics, personal history, information regarding general health or subjective cognitive complaints in a coherent model. Non-cognitive factors, such as personality traits and behavioral and psychiatric symptoms, can be informative markers of early disease stage. It is known that personality can affect cognition and behavioral symptoms. The aim of the paper is to review the different types of interactions existing between personality, depression/anxiety, and cognition and cognitive disorders at behavioral and brain/genetic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Zufferey
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Neuroimagerie (LREN), Departement des Neurosciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Universite de Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.,Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avance (SUPAA), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1008 Prilly-Lausanne, Switzerland.,Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Valais), Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, 1951 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Armin von Gunten
- Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avance (SUPAA), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1008 Prilly-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ferath Kherif
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Neuroimagerie (LREN), Departement des Neurosciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Universite de Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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26
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Stephan Y, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Terracciano A. Memory and Personality Development in Adulthood: Evidence From Four Longitudinal Studies. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:88-97. [PMID: 32896862 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Personality traits have been related to concurrent memory performance. Most studies, however, have focused on personality as a predictor of memory; comparatively less is known about whether memory is related to personality development across adulthood. Using 4 samples, the present study tests whether memory level and change are related to personality change in adulthood. METHOD Participants were drawn from 2 waves of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Graduates (WLSG; N = 3,232, mean age = 64.28, SD = 0.65) and Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Siblings (WLSS; N = 1,570, mean age = 63.52, SD = 6.69) samples, the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS; N = 1,901, mean age = 55.43, SD = 10.98), and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 6,038, mean age = 65.47, SD = 8.28). Immediate and delayed recall and the 5 major personality traits were assessed at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS There was heterogeneity in the associations across samples. A meta-analysis of latent change in the four samples indicated that lower baseline memory performance was related to an increase in neuroticism (B = -0.002; 95% CI = -0.004, -0.0008) and a decrease in agreeableness (B = 0.004; 95% CI = 0.002, 0.007) and conscientiousness (B = 0.005; 95% CI = 0.0008, 0.010). In addition, declines in memory were related to steeper declines in extraversion (B = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.003, 0.11), openness (B = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.007, 0.069), and conscientiousness (B = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.019, 0.09). DISCUSSION The present study indicates that poor memory and declines in memory over time are related to maladaptive personality change. These associations, however, were small and inconsistent across samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelina R Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Martina Luchetti
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Terracciano A. Self-Reported Personality Traits and Informant-Rated Cognition: A 10-Year Prospective Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 72:181-190. [PMID: 31561364 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Personality traits, such as higher Neuroticism and lower Conscientiousness, are associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. A diagnosis of dementia relies, in part, on informant ratings of the individual's cognitive status. Here we examine whether self-reported personality traits are associated with four measures of informant-rated cognition up to a decade later. Participants from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,536) completed a five-factor model measure of personality in 2006 or 2008. Informants completed the 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP), which included ratings of the participant's current cognitive functioning and change in cognitive function over the last decade assessed with the IQCODE, Blessed, 1066, and CSID. Controlling for characteristics of the participant, informant, and their relationship, higher Neuroticism and lower Conscientiousness were associated consistently with worse informant-rated cognition. The association between Openness and better informant-rated cognition was due primarily to higher baseline cognitive function. Extraversion and Agreeableness were associated with better informant-rated cognition only among participants who were cognitively intact at follow-up. The present research suggests that knowledgeable informants are able to detect cognitive deficits associated with personality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina R Sutin
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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28
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Aschwanden D, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Allemand M, Stephan Y, Terracciano A. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between Personality and Cognitive Failures / Complaints. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2020; 14:e12565. [PMID: 34326894 PMCID: PMC8317966 DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review examined the associations of personality traits with cognitive failures and cognitive complaints across the adult lifespan. We first present three conceptual models (cognitive abilities, mental processes, and reporting bias) that could explain why personality is related to such behaviors. We then conducted five separate meta-analyses with 10-17 cross-sectional samples (N = 7,642 - 10,564) that were identified through a systematic literature search following the MOOSE guidelines. Higher neuroticism (r = .39, 95% CI [0.32, 0.45]) and lower conscientiousness (r = -.36, 95% CI [-.42, -.29]) were related to more cognitive failures and complaints. Lower scores on the remaining traits were also associated with more cognitive failures and complaints, yet to a weaker extent (extraversion: r = -.14, 95% CI [-.20, -.08]; openness: r = -.07, 95% CI [-.11, -.03]; agreeableness: r = -.13, 95% CI [-.21, -.05]). With the current empirical evidence, it is not possible to tell which of the three conceptual models explains how much of the associations. For neuroticism, there is more support for the mental processes than the reporting bias model, but more research is needed to fully test mechanistic models. We provide several suggestions for future research to address existing limitations of the literature on personality and cognitive failures and complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mathias Allemand
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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Sutin AR, Aschwanden D, Stephan Y, Terracciano A. Five Factor Model Personality Traits and Subjective Cognitive Failures. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2020; 155:109741. [PMID: 32863506 PMCID: PMC7451823 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.109741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Momentary lapses in memory, perception, or action, known as cognitive failures, are relatively common. These lapses may reflect, in part, aspects of psychological functioning, such as personality traits. The present research addresses how Five Factor Model personality traits and facets are associated with cognitive failures, and whether these associations are accounted for by depressed affect. Participants (N=5,133; 50% female) who ranged in age from 18 to 91 completed an online survey that assessed their personality traits, cognitive failures, and depressed affect. Higher neuroticism was associated with more cognitive failures, whereas Conscientiousness and Agreeableness were associated with fewer failures, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Controlling for depressed affect reduced the associations in most cases by about 50%, but most relations were still apparent. Facet-level analyses provided a more detailed picture of how the traits are associated with cognitive failures. Subjective perceptions of lapses in cognition are associated with basic personality traits and may reflect, in part, processes related to those traits beyond depressed affect.
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Luchetti M, Terracciano A. Five-factor model personality traits and cognitive function in five domains in older adulthood. BMC Geriatr 2019; 19:343. [PMID: 31805866 PMCID: PMC6896269 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-019-1362-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Five-factor model (FFM) personality traits have been associated consistently with risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Less is known about how these traits are associated with functioning in specific domains of cognitive function in older adulthood. METHODS Participants (N = 2865) were drawn from the 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol sub-study of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants completed a battery of cognitive tasks that measured performance in five domains: Memory (eight tasks), speed-attention-executive (five tasks), visuospatial ability (three tasks), fluency (one task), and numeric reasoning (one task). Participants completed an FFM personality measure as part of the regular HRS assessment in either 2014 or 2016. Linear regression was used to examine the association between the traits and each cognitive task and composite scores for the five domains, controlling for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education. We also tested whether the associations were moderated by these sociodemographic factors or mental status. RESULTS Neuroticism was associated with worse performance on all of the cognitive tasks. Conscientiousness was associated with better performance across all five cognitive domains, although not necessarily with every task. Openness and Agreeableness were associated with better performance in all domains, except for numeric reasoning. Extraversion was associated with better speed-attention-executive and fluency. There was no robust evidence that the association between personality and cognition was moderated by sociodemographic characteristics or global cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS Personality traits have pervasive associations with functioning across five cognitive domains. Consistent with the literature on personality and risk of ADRD, Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were associated with cognitive performance in the expected direction in all domains. Extraversion was the only trait that showed domain-specific associations. The present research supports models of personality and health in the context of cognition and suggests that personality is associated with intermediate markers of cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina R. Sutin
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL USA
| | | | - Martina Luchetti
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL USA
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL USA
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