Abstract
BackgroundFive-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.MethodsParticipants (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.ResultsNeuroticism 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.ConclusionsPersonality 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.
Highlights
Five-factor model (FFM) personality traits have been associated consistently with risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD)
In addition to the main effect, we examine whether the association between personality and cognition is moderated by age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, or global cognitive function
Neuroticism was associated with worse performance on every cognitive task: Individuals higher in Neuroticism performed worse on measures of episodic memory, speed-attention-executive, visuospatial ability, fluency, and numeric reasoning
Summary
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. Five Factor Model (FFM) personality traits [1] are associated consistently with significant cognitive impairment. The present research addresses five common domains of function [5]: Episodic memory, speed-attention-executive, visuospatial ability, fluency, and numeric reasoning. It includes memory for personal events that range from the distant past to events that just happened in the current moment. It is often measured with word lists that participants recall immediately and after a short delay. Numeric reasoning is the ability to manipulate numbers and includes basic arithmetic
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