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Personality and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Data From a Longitudinal Sample and Meta-Analysis
Luchetti M, Terracciano A, Stephan Y, Sutin AR.. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2015-01-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
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.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Luchetti, M., Terracciano, A., Stephan, Y., & Sutin, A. R. (2016). Personality and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Data From a Longitudinal Sample and Meta-Analysis. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu184
Vancouver
Luchetti M, Terracciano A, Stephan Y, Sutin AR. Personality and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Data From a Longitudinal Sample and Meta-Analysis. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. 2016. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbu184. PMID: 25583598.
BibTeX
@article{luchetti2016-25583598,
author = {Luchetti, M. and Terracciano, A. and Stephan, Y. and Sutin, A. R.},
title = {{Personality and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Data From a Longitudinal Sample and Meta-Analysis}},
journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbu184},
pmid = {25583598},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu184}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Objectives Personality traits are associated with risk of dementia; less is known about their association with the trajectory of cognitive functioning.
- 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.
Why it matters
This study and meta-analysis found that higher Neuroticism was linked to worse cognitive performance and greater memory decline, while higher Conscientiousness and Openness were linked to better memory and less decline. These associations were modest and do not show that personality change can treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants13,987
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 69/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series B: journal h-index 225 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 13,987 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 244 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.3 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 59 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Angelina R. Sutin: h-index 78 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Bologna: institution h-index 989 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25583598) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 69 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbu184
- PubMed: 25583598
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Journals of Gerontology Series B →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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