Personality change in old age.
OBJECTIVE
The present short review summarizes some of the most important personality changes in older adults.


RESULTS
Personality changes in old age are usually minimal. Cluster B personality disorders appear to become less prevalent. Significant changes in personality are typically associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (e.g., slowly progressive sociopathy), Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment due to incipient dementia or underlying medical illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, we suggest that a significant change in personality in old age always warrants careful neuropsychiatric examination.
Lautenschlager
Nicola T
NT
School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia. nicola.lautenschlager@uwa.edu.au
Förstl
Hans
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D013577:Syndrome