Five-Factor Personality Dimensions, Mood States, and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults

Premorbid personality traits as predictors for incident predementia syndromes: a multistate model approach

OBJECTIVE

Associations have been found between five-factor model (FFM) personality traits and risk of developing specific predementia syndromes such as subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aims of this study were to: 1) Compare baseline FFM traits between participants who transitioned from healthy cognition or SCD to amnestic MCI (aMCI) versus non-amnestic MCI (naMCI); and 2) Determine the relationship between FFM traits and risk of transition between predementia cognitive states.

METHODS

Participants were 562 older adults from the Einstein Aging Study, 378 of which had at least one follow-up assessment. Baseline data collected included levels of FFM personality traits, anxiety and depressive symptoms, medical history, performance on a cognitive battery, and demographics. Follow-up cognitive diagnoses were also recorded.

RESULTS

Mann-Whitney U tests revealed no differences in baseline levels of FFM personality traits between participants who developed aMCI compared to those who developed naMCI. A four-state multistate Markov model revealed that higher levels of conscientiousness were protective against developing SCD while higher levels of neuroticism resulted in an increased risk of developing SCD. Further, higher levels of extraversion were protective against developing naMCI.

CONCLUSIONS

FFM personality traits may be useful in improving predictions of who is at greatest risk for developing specific predementia syndromes. Information on these personality traits could enrich clinical trials by permitting trials to target individuals who are at greatest risk for developing specific forms of cognitive impairment. These results should be replicated in future studies with larger sample sizes and younger participants.

Association between personality and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

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.

Assessment-related anxiety among older adults: associations with neuropsychological test performance

Anxiety disrupts test performance across academic/testing contexts; however, the impact of anxiety on neuropsychological testing has been examined less frequently among older adults, despite clinical observations of high anxiety and dementia worry among elderly individuals in assessment contexts. The present study examined the impact of trait, state, and test anxiety on measures of processing speed, working memory, verbal memory, and aspects of executive functioning (i.e., set shifting and inhibition). We hypothesized that anxiety specific to neuropsychological assessment would correlate with test performance more consistently than state or trait anxiety. Ninety-three older adults aged 55 to 89 underwent a three-and-a-half-hour comprehensive assessment battery measuring anxiety and neuropsychological test performance. All participants completed the Feelings About Neuropsychological Testing State (FANT-S) and Test (FANT-T) questionnaires, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-seven item (GAD-7), and neuropsychological tests in the domains of processing speed, working memory, verbal memory, and executive functioning. When test scores were regressed on these anxiety measures, increases in test anxiety predicted decreased performance on measures of executive functioning, specifically inhibitory control. State anxiety demonstrated the opposite relationship to performance and predicted increased performance on one measure. Trait anxiety did not predict cognitive assessment performance. Findings were consistent with previous research indicating measures of test anxiety are more sensitive to changes in test performance than measures of trait or state anxiety. Results demonstrated that older adults, even those not referred for a clinical neuropsychological assessment, can show decreased test performance when self-reported anxiety relevant to the neuropsychological assessment context is high.

Network analysis of the associations between personality traits, cognitive functioning, and inflammatory markers in elderly individuals without dementia

Introduction

Lower cognitive functioning in old age has been associated with personality traits or systemic inflammatory markers. Associations have also been found between personality traits and inflammatory markers. However, no study has explored the inter-relationships between these three components simultaneously. The present study aims to better understand the inter-relationships among personality traits, inflammatory markers, and cognitive performance in elderly individuals without dementia.

Methods

This study utilizes a network analysis approach, a statistical method that allows visualization of the data's unique pairwise associations. We performed a cross-sectional analysis on 720 elderly individuals without dementia, using data from Colaus|PsyColaus, a population-based study conducted in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Revised NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI-R) was used to assess personality traits, and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were used as peripheral inflammatory markers. Cognitive domains were investigated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Verbal Fluency Test, the Stroop Test, the DO40, and the Free and Cued Selective Reminding (FCSR) test.

Results

Openness was associated with verbal fluency and Agreeableness with immediate free recall. In contrast, no association between inflammatory markers and personality traits or cognition was identified.

Discussion

In elderly individuals without dementia, a high level of Openness or Agreeableness was associated with executive functioning/semantic memory and episodic memory, respectively.

Higher levels of neuroticism in older adults predict lower executive functioning across time: the mediating role of perceived stress

Neuroticism has been associated with individual differences across multiple cognitive functions. Yet, the literature on its specific association with executive functions (EF) in older adults is scarce, especially using longitudinal designs. To disentangle the specific influence of neuroticism on EF and on coarse cognitive functioning in old adulthood, respectively, we examined the relationship between neuroticism, the Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in a 6-year longitudinal study using Bayesian analyses. Data of 768 older adults (M age = 73.51 years at Wave 1) were included in a cross-lagged analysis. Results showed no cross-sectional link between neuroticism and TMT performance at Wave 1 and no longitudinal link between neuroticism at Wave 1 and MMSE at Wave 2. However, neuroticism at Wave 1 predicted TMT performance at Wave 2, indicating that the more neurotic participants were, the lower they performed on the TMT six years later. Additional analyses showed that this relation was fully mediated by participants' perceived stress. Our results suggest that the more neurotic older adults are the more stress they may perceive six years later, which in turn negatively relates to their EF. In sum, this study demonstrates that neuroticism may lead to lower EF in older age across six years. It further suggests older adults' perceived stress as mediator, thereby providing novel insights into the mechanisms underlying this relation. Possible intervention approaches to counter these effects are discussed.

Test-retest reliability for common tasks in vision science

Research in perception and attention has typically sought to evaluate cognitive mechanisms according to the average response to a manipulation. Recently, there has been a shift toward appreciating the value of individual differences and the insight gained by exploring the impacts of between-participant variation on human cognition. However, a recent study suggests that many robust, well-established cognitive control tasks suffer from surprisingly low levels of test-retest reliability (Hedge, Powell, & Sumner, 2018b). We tested a large sample of undergraduate students (n = 160) in two sessions (separated by 1–3 weeks) on four commonly used tasks in vision science. We implemented measures that spanned a range of perceptual and attentional processes, including motion coherence (MoCo), useful field of view (UFOV), multiple-object tracking (MOT), and visual working memory (VWM). Intraclass correlations ranged from good to poor, suggesting that some task measures are more suitable for assessing individual differences than others. VWM capacity (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.77), MoCo threshold (ICC = 0.60), UFOV middle accuracy (ICC = 0.60), and UFOV outer accuracy (ICC = 0.74) showed good-to-excellent reliability. Other measures, namely the maximum number of items tracked in MOT (ICC = 0.41) and UFOV number accuracy (ICC = 0.48), showed moderate reliability; the MOT threshold (ICC = 0.36) and UFOV inner accuracy (ICC = 0.30) showed poor reliability. In this paper, we present these results alongside a summary of reliabilities estimated previously for other vision science tasks. We then offer useful recommendations for evaluating test-retest reliability when considering a task for use in evaluating individual differences.

The relations between personality, components of executive functions, and intelligence in children and young adults

Previous studies in adults showed heterogeneous results regarding the associations of personality with intelligence and executive functions (EF). In children, there is a lack of studies investigating the relations between personality and EF. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the relations between the Big Five personality traits, EF, and intelligence in a sample of children (Experiment 1) and young adults (Experiment 2). A total of 155 children (Experiment 1, mean age = 9.54 years) and 91 young adults (Experiment 2, mean age = 23.49 years) participated in the two studies. In both studies, participants performed tasks measuring working memory (WM), inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and fluid intelligence and completed a personality questionnaire. In Experiment 1, we found a negative relation between neuroticism and intelligence. In Experiment 2, we found a positive relation between conscientiousness and intelligence and a positive relation between conscientiousness and cognitive flexibility. Our results suggest a complex interplay between personality factors, EF, and intelligence both in children as well as in young adults.

Gender Differences in State Anxiety Related to Daily Function Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Questionnaire Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to people's day-to-day functioning and emotional and physical health, especially among older adults.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to analyze gender differences in state anxiety, daily functional self-actualization, and functional cognition as well as the relationships among those factors in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

METHODS

We collected data on the web from a sample of 204 people (102 men and 102 women) aged 60 years and older. In addition to a demographic questionnaire, we used the State-Trait Personality Inventory to assess state anxiety, the Daily Functional Actualization questionnaire to evaluate daily functional self-actualization, and the Daily Living Questionnaire to measure functional cognition.

RESULTS

Significant gender differences were found for state anxiety (t₂₀₂=-2.36, P=.02); daily functional self-actualization (t₂₀₂=2.15, P=.03); and the functional cognition components: complex tasks (Z=-3.07, P=.002); cognitive symptoms that might be interfering (Z=-2.15, P=.028); executive functions (Z=-2.21, P=.024); and executive function monitoring (Z=-2.21, P=.027). Significant medium correlations were found between both state anxiety level and daily functional self-actualization (r=-0.62, P<.001) and functional cognition (r=0.37-0.40, P<.001). Gender predicted 3% of the variance in state anxiety level, while daily functional self-actualization predicted 41% and complex activities (Daily Living Questionnaire) predicted an additional 3% (F_3,200=58.01, P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults, anxiety is associated with cognitive decline, which may harm daily functional abilities and lead to social isolation, loneliness, and decreased well-being. Self-awareness and knowledge of gender differences and relationships between common available resources of daily functional self-actualization and functional cognition with anxiety may be strengthening factors in crisis periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engagement in Cognitively Stimulating Activities Mediates the Relationship between Openness and Attention/Executive Functions, but Not Memory in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

Openness has a positive association with cognitive functioning and engagement in cognitively stimulating activities (CSA). Older adults who engage in more CSA tend to show greater preservation of their cognitive skills; thus, we examined whether: higher Openness would be associated with higher attention/executive functions (AEF) and verbal memory; and CSA would mediate the relationship between Openness and AEF, as well as verbal memory.

METHOD

477 community-dwelling older adults (65+ years) were included in the current cross-sectional study. Composite variables of AEF (TMT-A&B, COWAT, and DSST) and verbal memory (RBANS immediate and delayed verbal memory subtasks) were included. Openness was assessed via the Big-5 Inventory and CSA with the Leisure Activity Questionnaire.

METHOD

477 community-dwelling older adults (65+ years) were included in the current cross-sectional study. Composite variables of AEF (TMT-A&B, COWAT, and DSST) and verbal memory (RBANS verbal memory subtasks) were included. Openness was assessed via the Big-5 Inventory and CSA with the Leisure Activity Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Linear regressions indicated a significant positive association between Openness and AEF (β = .09, p < .01), but not verbal memory (β = .06, p = .06). A significant partial mediation was demonstrated between Openness, CSA, and AEF (c: β = .08, p < .05, 95%CI = .02-.14; c': β = .02, 95%CI = .01-.03). The mediation of Openness, CSA, and verbal memory was not significant (c: β = .06, p > .05, 95%CI = .01-.11; c': β = .00, 95%CI = -.01-.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between Openness and AEF, but not verbal memory, was partially mediated by CSA in healthy older adults. The findings suggest that those who are more open to and highly engaged in CSA may have a later in life advantage in preserving their AEF abilities.

Dietary fish hydrolysate supplementation containing n-3 LC-PUFAs and peptides prevents short-term memory and stress response deficits in aged mice

Brain aging is characterized by a decline in cognitive functions, which can lead to the development of neurodegenerative pathologies. Age-related spatial learning and memory deficits are associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation. Anxiety disorders and stress response alterations, occurring for a part of the elderly, have also been linked to an increased neuroinflammation and thus, an accelerated cognitive decline. Nutrition is an innovative strategy to prevent age-related cognitive impairments. Among the nutrients, n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and low molecular weight peptides from proteins, especially those from marine resources, are good candidates for their immunomodulatory, anxiolytic and neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study is to determine the combined effect of n-3 LC-PUFAs and low molecular weight peptides on cognitive functions, and their mechanism of action. We are the first to show that a dietary supplementation with a fish hydrolysate containing n-3 LC-PUFAs and low molecular weight peptides prevented the age-related spatial short-term memory deficits and modulated navigation strategies adopted during spatial learning. In addition, the fish hydrolysate displayed anxiolytic activities with the reduction of anxiety-like behaviour in aged mice, restored the plasmatic corticosterone levels similar to adult animals following an acute stress and modulated the hypothalamic stress response. These effects on behaviour can be explained by the immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties of the fish hydrolysate that limited microgliosis in vivo, decreased LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the expression of growth factors such as BDNF and NGF in vitro. Thus, n-3 LC-PUFAs and low molecular weight peptides contained in the fish hydrolysate can play an important role in the limitation of neuroinflammation and stress response alterations during aging and represent a potential strategy for the prevention of age-related cognitive decline.

Personality determinants of subjective executive function in older adults

Objectives: Problems in subjective executive function, the perceived cognitive control of mental processes for goal-directed behavior, may indicate cognitive impairment in older adulthood. Although, previous studies highlight the importance of personality on objective cognitive performance, no studies clarify their role with subjective executive function. To inform methods of early identification of cognitive impairment, this study explored how temperament and personality traits account for problems in subjective executive function.Method: The current project examined the associations between temperament and personality on subjective executive function across two samples of community-dwelling older adults (65+ years, n₁ = 25, n₂ = 50). Both studies measured subjective executive function (Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult) and separately administered scales on temperament (Adult Temperament Questionnaire) and personality (Big Five Inventory).Results: Concerning temperament, older adults higher in negative affect endorsed greater difficulty in subjective executive function. Regarding personality traits, older adults with higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness reported higher difficulty in subjective executive function.Conclusion: Findings enhance our understanding of subtle cognitive changes and may aid in early detection. In particular, distressful inclinations were associated with more reported problems in executive function whereas problem-solving tendencies were inversely related. Future work should examine if enhanced negativity coupled with analytical disengagement predicts problems in subjective executive function over time.

The Effect of Personality Traits on Risk of Incident Pre-dementia Syndromes

OBJECTIVES

Personality traits have been shown to be associated with the risk of dementia; less is known about their association with pre-dementia syndromes. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of personality traits as predictors of incident pre-dementia, motoric cognitive risk (MCR), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) syndromes.

DESIGN

We prospectively examined the association between five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness) and the risk of incident MCR or MCI. MCR builds on MCI operational definitions, substituting the cognitive impairment criterion with slow gait, and it is associated with increased risk for both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

SETTING

Community based.

PARTICIPANTS

Nondemented participants (n = 524; 62% women) aged 65 years and older.

MEASUREMENTS

Cox proportional hazard analysis, adjusted for demographics and disease burden, was used to evaluate the risk of each pre-dementia syndrome based on baseline personality traits, measured using the Big Five Inventory.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 3 years, 38 participants developed incident MCR, and 69 developed incident MCI (41 non-amnestic and 28 amnestic subtypes). Openness was associated with a reduced risk of developing incident MCR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = .94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .89-.99), whereas neuroticism was associated with an increased risk of incident non-amnestic MCI (aHR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.01-1.11). These associations remained significant even after considering the confounding effects of lifestyle or mood. None of the personality traits were associated with MCI overall or amnestic MCI.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence of a distinct relationship between personality traits and development of specific pre-dementia syndromes. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1554-1559, 2020.

Relationships Between Subjective Cognitive Impairment and Personality Traits: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined the relationships between personality traits and subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) in older adults without dementia. A comprehensive literature search conducted according to PRISMA guidelines identified empirical investigations of SCI and at least one of the big five personality traits among adults age 60 or older. All articles were critically appraised using the weight of evidence framework and findings were compared, contrasted, and synthesized across studies. Sixteen of the 797 studies initially identified met eligibility criteria. A higher level of SCI was associated with higher neuroticism in 88% of the studies reviewed. In addition, a consistent negative association was identified between conscientiousness and SCI (57% of studies). No consistent relationships between openness, extraversion, or agreeableness and SCI were identified. Overall, this review supports the oft-cited association between higher neuroticism and greater self-reports of cognitive problems; however, the complexity of the relationship between SCI and personality is not yet fully understood. Future research should examine the extent to which different personality traits predispose individuals to report symptoms versus those traits that are associated with increased sensitivity to early indicators of pathological change. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45(2), 27-34.].

Personality Traits are Related to Selective Cognitive Impairment in Early Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

A link between personality traits and cognitive performance has been shown in normal adults and elderly individuals. Very few studies have evaluated this link in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To better understand cognitive performance as regards to personality traits, our study was aimed to evaluate the role of premorbid personality on cognitive functioning in a population of patients presenting prodromal or mild AD.

METHODS

181 elderly with prodromal or mild AD participated in a cross-sectional, prospective cohort study. The participants completed a personality inventory and a neuropsychological battery exploring memory, attention, executive function, language, and praxis. Cognitive performance were compared according to the level of each personality trait, using multivariate MANOVA models.

RESULTS

A higher level of neuroticism was associated with lower performance at similarities test (D = 9.49, p = 0.003), delayed Free and Cued Selective Reminding test (D = 5.22, p = 0.02), and digit span score (D = 7.99, p = 0.006). A higher level of openness was related to better performance at similarities (D = 4.33, p = 0.04), letter fluency (D = 11.45, p = 0.001), and category fluency test (D = 5.85, p = 0.02). Neuroticism interfered negatively with cognitive functioning at the prodromal stage; the association between openness and cognitive function was observed at both prodromal and mild AD stage.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that personality traits, in particular neuroticism and openness, modulate cognitive abilities in patients with early AD. These results encourage the development of stress management programs to prevent its negative effects on cognitive aging.

Risk Factors of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Alzheimer Disease: The Clinical Research of Dementia of South Korea Study

Background

Few studies have evaluated risk factors for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia at the initial assessment for Alzheimer disease in large patient samples. In this study, the factors influencing Alzheimer disease were examined using the Clinical Research of Dementia of South Korea data.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted using data of 1,128 patients with Alzheimer disease. The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were examined using the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Demographic characteristics, health-related behavior, neuropsychological tests, comorbidities, blood test results, and caregiver characteristics were assessed. Median logistic regression analysis with adjustment for covariates was conducted.

Results

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were negatively associated with memory (P=0.022) and frontal/executive (P<0.001) function in the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-dementia, Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (P<0.001), Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination score (P=0.003), and caregiver age (P=0.005) after adjustment for confounding factors, and positively associated with the Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living score (P<0.001), Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Box (P<0.001), Global Deterioration Scale score (P<0.001), abnormality of free T4 level (P<0.001), anemia (P<0.001), and family history of stroke (P=0.001). Patients with female caregivers exhibited more severe behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia than those with male caregivers.

Conclusion

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Alzheimer disease patients were associated with various risk factors including the inability to live independently and Alzheimer disease severity. These findings suggest that prevention and treatment strategies for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia should be comprehensive.

Personality and its Relationship to Depression and Cognition in Older Adults: Implications for Practice

OBJECTIVES

Personality is an important contributor to an individual's mental health and is consistently linked to the two most prevalent mental health conditions among older adults: dementia and depression. This review summarizes the current findings on personality and its association with cognitive decline and depression, as well as treatment outcomes and possible intervention strategies.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO. Search terms included 'personality traits,' 'depression,' 'treatment,' and 'older adults.'

RESULTS

Cognitive decline and depressive disorders are both associated with a common personality profile: high neuroticism, and low conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness. Across studies, the most consistent predictor of late-life depression, its course, and treatment outcomes is higher neuroticism.

CONCLUSIONS

Personality traits are associated with cognitive decline, as well as the diagnosis and course of late-life depression in older adults. However, formal personality assessment is not typically incorporated in clients' treatment plans, even though personality traits may influence treatment efficacy and outcomes.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Formal assessment of personality traits may be beneficial in terms of treatment adherence and outcomes for older adults. Tailored interventions that specifically target the client's strengths are likely to be well received by both clients and clinicians.

Personality factors and cognitive functioning in elderly with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurological disease, resulting from cell degeneration in the substantia nigra, responsible for the production of dopamine.

The association of anxiety, depression, and worry symptoms on cognitive performance in older adults

Emerging research suggests that a relationship exists between the cognitive aspects of anxiety (e.g. worry) and cognitive decline in older adults. The current study examined the association between anxiety, depressive, and worry symptoms on cognitive performance. Participants were 156 older adults enrolled in the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample Study (NKI-RS).  Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to determine the unique associations of anxiety, depressive, and worry symptoms on cognitive performance as measured by the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (Penn CNB), the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Worry symptoms were a significant predictor of Penn CNB social cognition, complex cognition, executive function, and episodic memory performance as well as RAVLT immediate and short-delay recall, but not of D-KEFS performance or RAVLT long-delay recall. In contrast, anxiety and depressive symptoms had few unique associations with cognitive performance. Given that worry symptoms have a negative impact on many aspects of neurocognitive performance, they may have utility in predicting and preventing cognitive decline in older adults.

The Relationship Between Personality and Neurocognition Among the American Elderly: An Epidemiologic Study

Background

Although different personality traits have often been associated with different levels of mental activity and cognitive functioning, no previous studies have evaluated the association in a sample that mirrors a nationally-representative sample of elderly individuals.

Objective

To evaluate the association between personality traits and neurocognitive functioning among individuals 51 years and older using the Cognition and Aging in the USA (CogUSA) database.

Methods

We analyzed the association between personality traits and neurocognitive scores derived from Waves I and II of the study. Neurocognitive functions were modeled as an outcome variable using the Big Five Personality Traits as predictors.

Results

All personality traits were associated with higher education except Conscientiousness. Older age was associated with higher levels of the Agreeableness and Openness traits. Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness were positively associated with increased neurocognitive function and self-rated present memory. Extraversion and Openness also had a positive association with long-term retrieval. Agreeableness was negatively associated with several neurocognitive functions, while Neuroticism was negatively associated with memory and cognitive effort.

Conclusion

Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness personality traits are associated with good cognitive health. Individuals scoring high in Neuroticism and Agreeableness might benefit from tailored cognitive interventions to prevent age-related cognitive decline.

Differential relationships of somatic and cognitive anxiety with measures of processing speed in older adults

Research suggests a reciprocal relationship between late-life anxiety and cognition, particularly attention and executive functions. Whereas evidence supports a conceptual distinction between cognitive and somatic dimensions of anxiety, their differential relationship with cognitive outcomes has not been examined, particularly on tests of attention/executive functions that rely on processing speed. Study goals were threefold: (a) to describe levels of overall, cognitive, and somatic anxiety in a sample of older adults without dementia, (b) to determine if overall anxiety is associated with performance on select measures of attention/executive functions that rely on processing speed, and (c) to determine if a differential relationship exists between cognitive and somatic anxiety and cognitive performance. Participants were 368 community-dwelling older adults. Results showed that elevated levels of somatic, but not cognitive anxiety were associated with poorer performance across measures. Findings suggest that the nature of anxiety symptoms may have important implications for cognitive performance in older adults.

Temporal dynamics of cognitive performance and anxiety across older adulthood

Cognitive decline and anxiety symptoms commonly co-occur in later life, but the temporal order of changes on these two attributes is unclear. Specifically, it is unknown if greater anxiety leads to subsequent declines in cognitive performance or if worse cognitive performance leads to increased anxiety. In this study, we sought to elucidate the temporal dynamics between anxiety symptoms and cognitive performance across old age-that is, the extent to which level and change in one variable influence subsequent changes in a second variable. We examined data from 721 nondemented participants from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. Participants completed as many as eight assessments of cognitive performance and anxiety over a 26-year period. Bivariate dual-change score models were fit to examine the dynamic association between anxiety and cognitive performance. Bidirectional associations between anxiety and cognitive performance were found among measures of processing speed, attention, and memory but not visuospatial abilities. Higher anxiety was associated with greater declines in processing speed over the duration of 6 years and worsening attention over a span of 3 years. The reverse direction was also significant in that slower processing speed, worse attention, and poorer nonverbal and working memory performance were associated with larger increases in anxiety 3 years later. These findings highlight that in cognitively intact older adults, the association between anxiety and worse cognitive performance is bidirectional and complex. (PsycINFO Database Record

Social support mediates the relationships between extraversion, neuroticism, and cognitive function in older adults

OBJECTIVES

We supplement existing findings on a link between social support and cognitive function in later life by considering the role of personality as an antecedent to both, and of social support as a mediator of the link between personality and cognitive function.

STUDY DESIGN

An observational cohort study.

METHODS

We evaluated social support using the Lubben Social Network Scale, across 624 adults aged over 60 years, and investigated this measure as a mediator of the relationships between extraversion and neuroticism at baseline 2007-2009, and cognitive function at follow-up, 2 years later. A half-longitudinal mediation design, within a structural equation modelling framework, was used.

RESULTS

There was a direct effect of extraversion, such that lower levels were related to higher scores of cognitive function. There was no significant direct effect of neuroticism on cognitive function at follow-up. Social support partially mediated the paths between both extraversion and neuroticism and cognitive function at follow-up. Decomposing the mediation effects by using social support subscales (measuring support from friends, relatives and neighbours) showed meaningful indirect effects for both predictors.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that social support may offer a target for interventions for cognitively at-risk older adults and add to the existing empirical evidence describing the link between personality and cognitive function.

Effect of Life Events, Social Supports, and Personality on Mental Status in Later Life

The goal of this study was to explore the influences of proximal and distal life events on mental status in later life. Additionally, life events were categorized into positive and negative experiences. Data from 208 older adults over 80 years of age from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included in this study. Results from a series of blockwise regression analyses indicated that the number of distal negative life events that older adults had experienced was a predictor of older adults' better mental status. Oldest-old adults' age, education, social supports, and social provision were also associated with their cognition. Cumulative negative life events may protect people in cognitive function as implicated by our results.

Terminal decline of episodic memory and perceptual speed in a biracial population

We compared trajectories of terminal cognitive decline in older Black (n = 3372) and White (n = 1756) persons from a defined population who completed tests of episodic memory and perceptual speed at 3-year intervals for up to 18 years. During a mean of 9.9 years of observation, 1608 Black persons and 902 White persons died. Preterminal decline of episodic memory did not differ by race. Terminal episodic memory decline began earlier in Black persons (mean of 4.3 years before death) than in White persons (mean = 3.9 years) and progressed more slowly. By contrast, terminal decline of perceptual speed began earlier in White persons (mean = 5.0 years) than in Black persons (mean = 4.5 years). Rate of perceptual speed decline was more rapid in White persons than in Black persons in both the preterminal and terminal periods. The results indicate that terminal cognitive decline occurs in Black persons but suggest that the rate of cognitive decline during the terminal period is less rapid in Black persons than in White persons.

Health-Related Behavior Mediates the Association Between Personality and Memory Performance in Older Adults

This prospective study explored the potential mediating role of health-related behavior (alcohol involvement, diet, television viewing, and physical activity) in the association between personality and change in memory performance over 2 years. A nationally representative sample of 8,376 U.K. participants aged 55 years and older (4,572 women, 3,804 men) completed self-report measures of personality and health-related behavior in 2010, and completed a memory performance task in 2010 and 2012. After removing variance associated with potential confounding variables, neuroticism and agreeableness had negative associations, and openness and conscientiousness positive associations with change in memory performance. There were no moderation effects by age, sex, education level, or ethnicity. Multiple mediator models demonstrated that physical activity, television viewing, and alcohol intake mediated associations between personality and change in memory performance. These findings provide evidence that the association between personality and memory performance in older adults can be explained, in part, through health-related behavior.

Personality, Emotional Qualities of Leisure, and Subjective Well-Being in the Elderly

In this study, we examined personality traits of older adults and their emotional experiences associated with engaging in specific leisure activities. Older individuals (17 males, 32 females), ages ranging from 65 to 97 years (mean age 74), completed measures of Big Five personality traits, positive and negative affect, subjective well-being (SWB), independent functioning, and an emotion-activity inventory. As expected, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to experience were related to positive affect, while Neuroticism was related to negative affect. Openness and Agreeableness were related to positive emotions experienced in social and cognitive domains, and Agreeableness was related to greater SWB, greater positive affect, and more positively experienced activities. Neuroticism was related to lower SWB and fewer positively experienced activities. These findings suggest that assessing the fit between personality and emotions experienced during activities should be considered when creating programs tailored to elderly individuals, with the goal of encouraging more active and rewarding lives.

Personality's association with IADLs in community dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVES

Extant research has established several predictors of functional ability (FA) in older adults (OAs); however, one factor that has been relatively ignored is personality. Preliminary evidence suggests that openness and agreeableness are associated with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). However, how personality is related to IADLs remains unclear. We aimed to determine how personality factors predict performance of IADLs, which we hypothesized, was because of executive functioning (EF).

METHODS

To best understand the relationship between personality and IADLs, we recruited and ran 65 independent community dwelling OAs. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical regressions were completed to determine the associations between openness and agreeableness with IADLs. Lastly, mediation analyses were completed to examine our hypothesis that EF would mediate this relationship

RESULTS

Correlation and regression findings support the relationship between openness and IADLs but not agreeableness and IADLs. As hypothesized, the relationship between openness and IADLs was mediated by EF.

CONCLUSIONS

We replicated the relationship between openness and IADLs and extend the literature by showing the mechanism of action for this relationship is EF. While our mediation results support this perspective, future research should determine if interventions that increase OAs' EF, in turn, increase or attenuate decline in IADLs over time.

The Moderating Effect of Personality Type on the Relationship between Leisure Activity and Executive Control in Older Adults

We examined the moderating effect of personality on the association between leisure activities and executive control in healthy community-dwelling older adults. We found two distinct personality typologies: individuals with a Resilient personality were characterized by emotional stability and self-confidence; whereas, those who resembled an Overcontrolled personality tended to be introverted, but also low on neuroticism. Resilient individuals were more likely than Overcontrolled individuals to demonstrate higher executive function and attention as a result of participation in mental activities. These results suggest that personality might be important to include in studies that test the efficacy of activity interventions for improving cognition.

Personality and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Data From a Longitudinal Sample and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Personality traits are associated with risk of dementia; less is known about their association with the trajectory of cognitive functioning. This research examines the association between the 5 major dimensions of personality and cognitive function and decline in older adulthood and includes a meta-analysis of published studies.

METHOD

Personality traits, objective and subjective memory, and cognitive status were collected in a large national sample (N = 13,987) with a 4-year follow-up period. For each trait, the meta-analysis pooled results from up to 5 prospective studies to examine personality and change in global cognition.

RESULTS

Higher Neuroticism was associated with worse performance on all cognitive measures and greater decline in memory, whereas higher Conscientiousness and Openness were associated with better memory performance concurrently and less decline over time. All traits were associated with subjective memory. Higher Conscientiousness and lower Extraversion were associated with better cognitive status and less decline. Although modest, these associations were generally larger than that of hypertension, diabetes, history of psychological treatment, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity. The meta-analysis supported the association between Neuroticism and Conscientiousness and cognitive decline.

DISCUSSION

Personality is associated with cognitive decline in older adults, with effects comparable to established clinical and lifestyle risk factors.

Personality and cognitive decline in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between personality domains and 11-year cognitive decline in a sample from a population-based study.

METHOD

Data from Waves 3 (1993-1996) and 4 (2003-2004) of the Baltimore cohort of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study were used for analyses. The sample included 561 adults (mean age ± SD: 45.2 ± 10.78 years) who completed the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised prior to Wave 4. Participants also completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and immediate and delayed word recall tests at Wave 3, and at Wave 4, 10.9 ± 0.6 years later.

RESULTS

In models adjusted for baseline cognitive performance, demographic characteristics, medical conditions, depressive symptoms, and psychotropic medication use, each 10-point increase in Neuroticism T-scores was associated with a 0.15-point decrease in MMSE scores (B = -0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.30, -0.01), whereas each 10-point increase in Conscientiousness T-scores was associated with a 0.18-point increase on the MMSE (B = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.32) and a 0.21-point increase in immediate recall (B = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.41) between baseline and follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that greater Neuroticism is associated with decline, and greater Conscientiousness is associated with improvement in performance on measures of general cognitive function and memory in adults. Further studies are needed to determine the extent to which personality traits in midlife are associated with clinically significant cognitive outcomes in older adults, such as mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and to identify potential mediators of the association between personality and cognitive trajectories.

Differential patterns of neuropsychological performance in the euthymic and depressive phases of bipolar disorders

AIMS

Patients with bipolar disorders (BD) show a broad range of neurocognitive impairments. We compared the patterns of neuropsychological performance in depressed and euthymic patients with BD, and explored the state-dependent cognitive markers of bipolar depression.

METHODS

The study participants included 32 BD patients (15 depressed and 17 euthymic) and 42 healthy controls. All of the subjects completed tests that assessed attention, psychomotor speed, verbal and visual memory, and executive functions. Between-group neuropsychological performance differences were examined. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used to compare the patterns of cognitive variables in euthymic and depressed BD patients.

RESULTS

Compared to the euthymic BD patients and healthy controls, the depressed BD patients performed lower in verbal memory and executive functions. No significant differences were found between the three groups in attention, psychomotor speed, and visual memory. The depressed BD patients showed a lower level of association between psychomotor speed and the time to initial concept formation than the healthy controls and euthymic BD patients. In contrast, the correlation between word association and verbal memory was stronger in the depressed group than either the control or euthymic groups.

CONCLUSION

The depressed BD patients showed greater impairments in verbal memory and executive functions than the euthymic BD patients. In addition, our study identified a differential pattern of correlations between the cognitive domains of euthymic and depressed BD patients, which suggests the potential role of verbal memory and executive functions as cognitive markers of BD.

Factors associated with change in Internet usage of Swedish older adults (2004-2010)

The increased reliance on Internet use in social functions has presumably left out a part of the population: the oldest-older adults. These are people who have not kept themselves up to date with the technological developments for various reasons. There are, however, exceptions from whom we have something to learn. This study investigates the older people in Sweden who started to use the Internet over a period of 6 years. Cognition, extraversion, openness, functional disability, household economy, sex, age and education were investigated in relation to starting to use the Internet. A chi-square test, Spearman correlation and a logistic regression analysis were conducted. It was found that higher cognition, being male and being between the ages of 60 and 80 years were determining factors in starting to use the Internet for the Swedish older adult. Our results indicate that the oldest-older adults are slow to adapt to using the Internet and more attention should be paid on how to support this group.

Personality Traits, Facets and Cognitive Performance: Age Differences in Their Relations

Personality traits and cognitive performance are related, but little work has examined how these associations vary by personality facet or age. 154 adults aged 22 to 84 completed the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT) and the NEO Five Factor Personality Inventory. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed negative emotional aspects of personality (neuroticism, depression) were associated with lower reasoning, and social aspects of personality (assertiveness) were associated with faster reaction time, yet lower reasoning. The association between neuroticism and performance was found primarily among younger adults. In older adulthood, better performance was associated with positive emotional aspects of personality. We discuss how personality may have different associations with performance across age and the implications for possible interventions.

Openness to experience is related to better memory ability in older adults with questionable dementia

The personality traits Openness to experience and Neuroticism of the five-factor model have previously been associated with memory performance in nondemented older adults, but this relationship has not been investigated in samples with memory impairment. Our examination of 50 community-dwelling older adults (29 cognitively intact; 21 with questionable dementia as determined by the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale) showed that demographic variables (age, years of education, gender, and estimated premorbid IQ) and current depressive symptoms explained a significant amount of variance of Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Status Delayed Memory (adjusted R (2) = 0.23). After controlling for these variables, a measure of global cognitive status further explained a significant portion of variance in memory performance (ΔR(2) = 0.13; adjusted R(2) = 0.36; p < .01). Finally, adding Openness to this hierarchical linear regression model explained a significant additional portion of variance (ΔR(2) = 0.08; adjusted R(2) = 0.44; p < .01) but adding Neuroticism did not explain any additional variance. This significant relationship between Openness and better memory performance above and beyond one's cognitive status and demographic variables may suggest that a lifelong pattern of involvement in new cognitive activities could be preserved in old age or protect from memory decline. This study suggests that personality may be a powerful predictor of memory ability and clinically useful in this heterogeneous population.

Relationships between behavioral syndromes and cognitive domains in Alzheimer disease: the impact of mood and psychosis

OBJECTIVES

Behavioral disturbances occur in nearly all Alzheimer disease (AD) patients together with an array of cognitive impairments. Prior investigations have failed to demonstrate specific associations between them, suggesting an independent, rather than shared, pathophysiology. The objective of this study was to reexamine this issue using an extensive cognitive battery together with a sensitive neurobehavioral and functional rating scale to correlate behavioral syndromes and cognitive domains across the spectrum of impairment in dementia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of comprehensive cognitive and behavioral ratings in subjects with AD and mild cognitive impairment.

SETTING

Memory disorders research center.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty subjects with AD and 26 subjects with mild cognitive impairment; and their caregivers.

MEASUREMENTS

Cognitive rating scales administered included the Mini-Mental State Examination; the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination; the Boston Naming Test; the Benton Visual Retention Test; the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Neuropsychology Assessment; the Controlled Oral Word Test; the Wechsler Memory Scale logical memory I and logical memory II task; the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised digit span; the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised digit symbol task; and the Clock Drawing Task together with the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

RESULTS

Stepwise regression of cognitive domains with symptom domains revealed significant associations of mood with impaired executive function/speed of processing (Δr = 0.22); impaired working memory (Δr = 0.05); impaired visual memory (Δr = 0.07); and worsened Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (Δr = 0.08). Psychosis was significantly associated with impaired working memory (Δr = 0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Mood symptoms appear to impact diverse cognitive realms and to compromise functional performance. Among neuropsychological indices, the unique relationship between working memory and psychosis suggests a possible common underlying neurobiology.

Personality as a Source of Individual Differences in Cognition among Older African Americans

Previous research suggests that demographic factors are important correlates of cognitive functioning in African Americans; however, less attention has been given to the influence of personality. The present study explored how dimensions and facets of personality predicted individual variability in cognition in a sample of older African Americans from the Baltimore Study of Black Aging. Cognition was assessed by verbal learning and attention/working memory measures. Personality was measured by the NEO Personality Inventory. Linear regressions controlling for demographic factors showed that Neuroticism, Openness, and Agreeableness were significant regression predictors of cognitive performance. Individual facets of all five personality dimensions were also associated with cognitive performance. These findings suggest personality is important in understanding variability in cognition among older African Americans.

Do depressive traits and hostility predict age-related decline in general intelligence?

Certain personality traits are likely to be associated with stress and distress through the lifespan, and as a consequence these traits may influence the rate of age-related cognitive decline. The present study uses data from the Glostrup 1914 cohort to analyze potential effects of personality on decline in general intelligence over a 30-year period. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was administered at a 50-year baseline exam, and from this inventory the Obvious Depression Scale and an abbreviated version of the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale were derived. At the 50-year baseline and at the 60-, 70-, and 80-year followups the full version of Wechsler's Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was administered to 673, 513, 136, and 184 participants. Mixed effects statistical models were used to evaluate both the effect of the personality scores on level of intelligence and the interaction between the personality scores and the time since followup. Analyses were adjusted for demographic background and a wide range of lifestyle factors. Both obvious depression and hostility were negatively associated with level of intelligence, but personality scores did not influence rate of decline in general intelligence.

Premorbid personality traits and their course in mild cognitive impairment: results from a prospective population-based study in Germany

BACKGROUND

Personality traits contribute to cognitive functioning. We present a study comparing personality traits in normal ageing and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS

We conducted a representative longitudinal study including 222 subjects from a cohort born between 1930 and 1932 (n = 500) examined at three examination waves (t1: 1993/1994; t2: 1997/1998; t3: 2005/2007). Personality traits were assessed with the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory questionnaire.

RESULTS

Healthy controls and patients with MCI showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease concerning their levels of neuroticism and extraversion over time. MCI subjects scored significantly higher on neuroticism at baseline and lower on openness at all examinations compared to healthy controls. Subjects with higher baseline neuroticism showed a 2.24 times higher risk of developing MCI at the third follow-up (odds ratio = 2.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-4.45 - scores adjusted for education and sex).

CONCLUSIONS

MCI subjects differ in their premorbid personality traits compared to healthy controls. According to our study, higher neuroticism should be considered a risk factor for the development of MCI.

Mild worry symptoms predict decline in learning and memory in healthy older adults: a 2-year prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

: Theoretical models of cognitive aging are increasingly recognizing the importance of anxiety and depressive symptoms in predicting age-related cognitive changes and early dementia. This study examined the association between mild worry and depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in healthy, community-dwelling older adults.

METHOD

: A total of 263 healthy older adults participated in an observational prospective cohort study that assessed worry and depression symptoms, and a broad range of cognitive functions over a 2-year period.

RESULTS

: Older adults with mildly elevated worry symptoms at baseline performed worse than older adults with minimal worry symptoms on measures of visual and paired associate learning. They were also more likely to show clinically significant (> 1.5 standard deviation) decline in visual learning and memory at a 2-year follow-up assessment (9.4% versus 2.5%; odds ratio = 3.8).

CONCLUSION

: Assessment of worry symptoms, even mild levels, may have utility in predicting early cognitive decline in healthy, community-dwelling older adults.

Neuroticism combined with slower and more variable reaction time: synergistic risk factors for 7-year cognitive decline in females

OBJECTIVE

Among adults, slower and more variable reaction times are associated with worse cognitive function and increased mortality risk. Therefore, it is important to elucidate risk factors for reaction time change over the life course. Method. Data from the Health and Lifestyle Survey (HALS) were used to examine predictors of 7-year decline in reaction time (N = 4,260). Regression-derived factor scores were used to summarize general change across 4 reaction time variables: simple mean, 4-choice mean, simple variability, and 4-choice variability (53.52% of variance).

RESULTS

Age (B = .02, p < .001) and HALS1 baseline reaction time (B = -.10, p = .001) were significant risk factors for males (N = 1,899). In addition to these variables, in females (N = 2,361), neuroticism was significant and interacted synergistically with baseline reaction time (B = .06, p = .04). Adjustment for physiological variables explained the interaction with neuroticism, suggesting that candidate mechanisms had been identified. Discussion. A priority for future research is to replicate interactions between personality and reaction time in other samples and find specific mechanisms. Stratification of population data on cognitive health by personality and reaction time could improve strategies for identifying those at greater risk of cognitive decline.

Personality traits prospectively predict verbal fluency in a lifespan sample

In a community-dwelling sample (N = 4,790; age range 14-94), we examined whether personality traits prospectively predicted performance on a verbal fluency task. Open, extraverted, and emotionally stable participants had better verbal fluency. At the facet level, dispositionally happy and self-disciplined participants retrieved more words; those prone to anxiety and depression and those who were deliberative retrieved fewer words. Education moderated the association between conscientiousness and fluency such that participants with lower education performed better on the fluency task if they were also conscientious. Age was not a moderator at the domain level, indicating that the personality-fluency associations were consistent across the life span. A disposition toward emotional vulnerability and being less open, less happy, and undisciplined may be detrimental to cognitive performance.

Personality-cognition relations across adulthood

Although an increasing number of studies have investigated relations between dimensions of personality and level of cognitive functioning, the research results have been somewhat inconsistent. Furthermore, relatively little is known about whether the personality-cognition relations vary as a function of age in adulthood. The current project examined these issues with data from a sample of 2,317 adults between 18 and 96 years of age who each completed a personality inventory and performed a broad battery of cognitive tests. The results revealed strong relations of the personality trait of Openness with several distinct cognitive abilities and smaller relations of other personality traits with specific cognitive abilities. Comparisons across different age groups indicated that the personality-cognition relations were both qualitatively and quantitatively similar across the adult years.

The NEO-FFI in Multiple Sclerosis: internal consistency, factorial validity, and correspondence between self and informant reports

Personality assessment is a potentially important component of clinical and empirical work with neurological patients because (a) individual differences in personality may be associated with different neurological outcomes and (b) central nervous system changes may give rise to alteration in personality. For personality assessment to be useful to clinicians and researchers, the tests must be reliable and valid, as self-report measures require certain baseline levels of comprehension and insight, both of which can be compromised by cerebral disease. In this study, the authors examined the psychometric properties of the widely used NEO Five-Factor Inventory in a group of 419 patients with multiple sclerosis. Their objective was to determine if the NEO Five-Factor Inventory is reliable and valid in this population. Results showed adequate estimates of internal consistency, factorial validity, and self-informant correlation that support its use with patients with multiple sclerosis. Implications, limitations of the current study, and directions for future research are discussed.