Personality Traits Are Associated With Cognitive Resilience in Older Adults

A new Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences found some older adults whose brains exhibit tangles and sticky plaques that can interfere with cognition and memory may have more cognitive resilience than others because of their personalities, reports News-Medical . Those with a stronger tendency toward self-discipline, organization, diligence, high achievement, and motivation — also known as higher conscientiousness — were more cognitively resilient. Meanwhile, more neurotic individuals had a greater likelihood of worse cognitive function than expected given the amount of neuropathology detected postmortem. "These findings provide evidence that it is possible for older adults to live with the neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias while maintaining relatively healthy levels of cognitive function," said Northwestern Professor Eileen Graham. She added that "since it is possible for personality to change, both 'volitionally' and through interventions, it's possible that personality could be used to identify those who are at risk and implement early interventions to help optimize function throughout old age."