Neuroticism does not affect cognitive functioning in later life.
In a cross-sectional study, Jorm and colleagues (1993. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 721-723) found that neuroticism was related to poorer cognitive performance in the elderly. The present study was initiated to expand their findings using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Maastricht Aging Study. In contrast to the findings of Jorm and coworkers, neuroticism was not associated with either current cognitive performance or cognitive decline over a period of 3 years.
Maastricht Brain and Behaviour Institute, European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.jelicic@psychology.unimaas.nl
Marko
M
Jelicic
Hans
H
Bosma
Rudolf W H M
RW
Ponds
Martin P J
MP
Van Boxtel
Peter J
PJ
Houx
Jelle
J
Jolles
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis