@article {13793, title = {Physical, cognitive, and social activities as mediators between personality and cognition: evidence from four prospective samples.}, journal = {Aging \& Mental Health}, year = {Forthcoming}, pages = {1-10}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The present study examined how activity engagement mediates the association between personality and cognition.

METHODS: Participants were middle-aged and older adults (Age range: 24-93 years; > 16,000) from the Midlife in the United States Study, the Health and Retirement Study, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of Aging. In each sample, personality traits and demographic factors were assessed at baseline, engagement in cognitive, physical, and social activities was assessed in a second wave, and cognition was measured in a third wave, 8 to 20 years later.

RESULTS: Random-effect meta-analyses indicated that lower neuroticism and higher extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness were prospectively associated with better cognition. Most of these associations were partly mediated by greater engagement in physical and cognitive activities but not social activities. Physical activity accounted for 7\% (neuroticism) to 50\% (extraversion) and cognitive activity accounted for 14\% (neuroticism) to 45\% (extraversion) of the association with cognition.

CONCLUSION: The present study provides replicable evidence that physical and cognitive activities partly mediate the prospective association between personality traits and cognitive functioning.

}, keywords = {activities, Aging, Cognition, lifestyle, longitudinal, Personality}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2024.2320135}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13524, title = {Purpose in life and markers of immunity and inflammation: Testing pathways of episodic memory.}, journal = {Journal of psychosomatic research}, volume = {174}, year = {Forthcoming}, pages = {111487}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This prospective cohort study examines whether purpose in life is associated with markers of immunity and inflammation and tests these markers as mediators between purpose and episodic memory.

METHODS: Participants from the Venous Blood Study of the Health and Retirement Study reported on their purpose in life, had their blood assayed for markers of immunity and inflammation, and were administered an episodic memory task (N~=~8999). Regression analyses tested the association between purpose and each marker. Prospective mediation analyses (N~=~6092) tested whether these markers measured in 2016 were mediators between purpose measured in 2012/2014 and episodic memory measured in 2018.

RESULTS: Higher purpose in life was associated with lower neutrophil counts (β~=~-0.08, p~<~.001), lower ratio of neutrophils/lymphocytes (β~=~-0.05, p~<~.001), and lower systemic immune inflammation index (β~=~-0.04, p~<~.001); purpose was unrelated to monocyte, platelet, and lymphocyte counts or the ratio of platelets/lymphocytes (all ns). Purpose was associated negatively with c-reactive protein (β~=~-0.07, p~<~.001), Interleukin-6 (β~=~-0.08, p~<~.001), Interleukin-10 (β~=~-0.07, p~<~.001), Interleukin-1ra (β~=~-0.08, p~<~.001), and soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 (sTNFR1; β~=~-0.10, p~<~.001); purpose was unrelated to Transforming Growth Factor beta 1. These associations were largely not moderated by age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education. Lower neutrophils, Interleukin-6, and sTNFR1 were associated prospectively with better episodic memory and mediated the association between purpose and episodic memory.

CONCLUSION: Purpose in life is associated with markers of immunity and inflammation, some of which are one mechanism in the pathway between purpose and healthier episodic memory.

}, keywords = {cognitive aging, Episodic Memory, Immunity, Inflammation, Mechanism, Purpose in life}, issn = {1879-1360}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111487}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R and Stephan, Yannick and Luchetti, Martina and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13626, title = {Personality and Cognition: The Mediating Role of Inflammatory Markers.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B}, volume = {79}, year = {2024}, pages = {gbad152}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Five-Factor Model personality traits are associated consistently with cognition. Inflammation has been hypothesized as a biological pathway in this association, but this assumption has yet to be tested. The present study tested inflammatory markers as mediators between personality traits and cognition.

METHODS: Participants were from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N= 4,364; 60\% women; Mean age= 64.48 years, SD= 8.79). Personality traits and demographic factors were assessed in 2010/2012. Data on inflammatory markers [High Sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor 1 (sTNFR1), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1] were obtained in 2016 from the HRS Venuous Blood Study. Cognition was assessed in 2020 using the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICSm).

RESULTS: Higher neuroticism was related to lower cognition at follow-up, whereas higher extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with better cognition. Higher extraversion and higher conscientiousness were related to lower hsCRP, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1Ra, and sTNFR1, and higher openness was associated with lower IL-10, IL-1Ra, and sTNFR1 and to higher sTGF-β1. Lower sTNFR1 partially mediated the associations between conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness and cognition at follow-up, explaining an estimated 4 to 12\% of these associations. The mediating role of sTNFR1 persisted when physical activity and depressive symptoms were included as additional mediators.

CONCLUSION: The present study provides new evidence on personality and inflammatory markers. Consistent with the inflammation hypothesis, the sTNFR1 finding supports a potential biological pathway between personality and cognition.

}, keywords = {Cognition, Inflammation, longitudinal, Personality}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbad152}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13823, title = {Purpose in Life and Risk of Falls: A Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Prospective Associations.}, journal = {Gerontology Geriatric Medicine}, volume = {10}, year = {2024}, pages = {23337214241236039}, abstract = {

Purpose in life is an aspect of well-being that is associated with better health outcomes in older adulthood. We examine the association between purpose in life and likelihood of a recent fall and risk of an incident fall over time. Purpose in life and falls were reported concurrently and falls were reported again up to 16 years later in four established longitudinal studies of older adults (total = 25,418). A random-effects meta-analysis of the four samples indicated that purpose was associated with a 14\% lower likelihood of having fallen recently at baseline (meta-analytic = 0.88, 95\% CI [0.84-0.92]). Among participants who reported no falls at baseline ( = 15,632), purpose was associated with a nearly 10\% lower risk of an incident fall over the up to 16-year follow-up (meta-analytic HR = 0.92, 95\% CI [0.90-0.94]). These associations were independent of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education, were not moderated by these factors, and persisted controlling for physical activity and disease burden. Purpose in life is a meaningful aspect of well-being that may be useful to identify individuals at risk for falling, particularly among individuals without traditional risk factors, and be a target of intervention to reduce fall risk.

}, keywords = {Aging, Falls, meaning, meta-analysis, prospective, purpose}, issn = {2333-7214}, doi = {10.1177/23337214241236039}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Canada, Brice and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13538, title = {Change in Purpose in Life Before and After Onset of Cognitive Impairment.}, journal = {JAMA Network Open}, volume = {6}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Sep 05}, pages = {e2333489}, abstract = {

IMPORTANCE: Purpose in life is a critical aspect of psychological well-being that is associated with better cognitive outcomes across the continuum of dementia. To our knowledge, the natural history of purpose with onset of cognitive impairment has yet to be evaluated.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in purpose in life prior to and after onset of cognitive impairment.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used assessments of purpose in life and cognitive status from March 2006 to May 2021 in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and from May 2011 to November 2021 in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

EXPOSURE: Cognitive impairment at each wave based on established thresholds in HRS and NHATS.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcome was purpose in life, measured with the Ryff Measures of Psychological Well-Being in HRS and a validated item in NHATS.

RESULTS: In HRS, 22 668 participants provided 50 985 assessments of purpose across all waves. In NHATS, 10 786 participants provided 53 880 assessments of purpose across all waves. In HRS, 58.3\% of participants were female, with mean (SD) age of 64.76 (10.41) years at baseline; in NHATS, 57.4\% were female, with mean (SD) age of 76.82 (7.71) years at baseline. Across waves, 6794 HRS participants (30\%) and 4446 NHATS participants (41.2\%) were in the cognitive impairment range. Accounting for demographic covariates and normative change in purpose, multilevel modeling indicated that standardized purpose in life declined significantly prior to onset of cognitive impairment (estimate for 10 years) in both HRS (b = -0.12; 95\% CI, -0.17 to -0.07; P < .001) and NHATS (b = -0.10; 95\% CI, -0.20 to -0.01; P = .03). Purpose declined significantly more rapidly following onset of cognitive impairment, with a standardized decline nearly 3 times larger compared with prior to impairment in HRS (b = -0.35; 95\% CI, -0.41 to -0.29; P < .001) and 4 times larger in NHATS (b = -0.44; 95\% CI, -0.53 to -0.34; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, purpose in life declined with emergence of cognitive impairment. The decline before onset was too small to be useful to detect impending impairment in clinical settings. The steeper decline following impairment suggests that individuals are aware that their purpose is declining. Purpose may be an intervention target following cognitive impairment to maintain well-being and to reduce or slow emergence of behavioral symptoms associated with low purpose.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Awareness, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retirement}, issn = {2574-3805}, doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.33489}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13346, title = {Changes in Personality Before and During Cognitive Impairment.}, journal = {J Am Med Dir Assoc}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Clinical observations and studies of retrospective observer ratings point to changes in personality in persons with cognitive impairment or dementia. The timing and magnitude of such changes, however, are unclear. This study used prospective self-reported data to examine the trajectories of personality traits before and during cognitive impairment.

DESIGN: Longitudinal observational cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older adults from the United States in the Health and Retirement Study were assessed for cognitive impairment and completed a measure of the 5 major personality traits every 4 years from 2006 to 2020 (N~= 22,611; n~= 5507 with cognitive impairment; 50,786 personality and cognitive assessments).

METHODS: Multilevel modeling examined changes before and during cognitive impairment, accounting for demographic differences and normative age-related trajectories.

RESULTS: Before cognitive impairment was detected, extraversion (b~=~-0.10, SE~= 0.02), agreeableness (b~=~-0.11, SE~= 0.02), and conscientiousness (b~=~-0.12, SE~= 0.02) decreased slightly; there was no significant change in neuroticism (b~= 0.04, SE~= 0.02) or openness (b~=~-0.06, SE~= 0.02). During cognitive impairment, faster rates of change were found for all 5 personality traits: neuroticism (b~= 0.10, SE~= 0.03) increased, and extraversion (b~=~-0.14, SE~= 0.03), openness (b~=~-0.15, SE~= 0.03), agreeableness (b~=~-0.35, SE~= 0.03), and conscientiousness (b~=~-0.34, SE~= 0.03) declined.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Cognitive impairment is associated with a pattern of detrimental personality changes across the preclinical and clinical stages. Compared with the steeper rate of change during cognitive impairment, the changes were small and inconsistent before impairment, making them unlikely to be useful predictors of incident dementia. The study findings further indicate that individuals can update their personality ratings during the early stages of cognitive impairment, providing valuable information in clinical settings. The results also suggest an acceleration of personality change with the progression to dementia, which may lead to behavioral, emotional, and other psychological symptoms commonly observed in people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

}, issn = {1538-9375}, doi = {10.1016/j.jamda.2023.05.011}, author = {Terracciano, Antonio and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and L{\"o}ckenhoff, Corinna E and Ledermann, Thomas and Sutin, Angelina R} } @article {12967, title = {Measures of physical performance as mediators between personality and cognition in two prospective studies.}, journal = {Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics}, volume = {107}, year = {2023}, pages = {104902}, abstract = {

Few studies have examined the pathways linking personality to cognition. This study aimed to examine whether measures of physical performance (gait speed, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and grip strength) mediated the association between five-factor model personality traits and cognition (memory performance, subjective memory, and informant-rated cognition). Participants were aged 57 to 95 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N~=~4,109) and the English Longitudinal Study of ageing (ELSA, N~=~3,584). In HRS, personality and demographic factors were assessed in 2008/2010, physical performance in 2012/2014, and memory performance and subjective memory in 2016/2018. Informant-rated cognition was obtained in 2016 for an HRS subsample. In ELSA, personality and demographic factors were assessed in 2010/2011, physical performance in 2012/2013, and objective and subjective memory in 2014/2015. Informant-rated cognition was obtained in 2018 for an ELSA subsample. With a few exceptions, replicable patterns of mediation were found across HRS and ELSA. Slower gait speed partially mediated the association between higher neuroticism, lower conscientiousness and worse scores on all three cognitive measures (memory performance, subjective memory, and informant-rated cognition). Slower gait also partially mediated the association between openness and both objective and subjective memory. There was less replicable evidence for a mediating role of PEF and grip strength. The present study advances knowledge on the pathways linking personality to cognition in older adults and supports the hypothesis that personality associations with better physical function can help support healthy cognitive aging.

}, keywords = {Cognition, Personality, Physical Functional Performance}, issn = {1872-6976}, doi = {10.1016/j.archger.2022.104902}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Cabibel, Vincent and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {12737, title = {The Mediating Role of Biomarkers in the Association between Subjective Aging and Episodic Memory.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B }, volume = {78}, year = {2023}, pages = {242-252}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), is consistently related to cognition in adulthood. The present study examined whether blood biomarkers mediate the longitudinal associations between subjective aging indices and memory.

METHODS: Data of 5,369 individuals aged 50 to 94 years (Mean= 66.89 years, SD= 9.22; 60\% women) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2012/2014. Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, albumin, cystatin C, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), fasting glucose, Vitamin D, hemoglobin, red cells distribution width, and epigenetic aging were assessed as part of the HRS Venuous Blood Study in 2016. Memory was measured in 2018. The mediators (except for epigenetic aging, which was assessed in a subsample) were tested simultaneously in models that accounted for demographic covariates.

RESULTS: An older subjective age was related to worse memory partially through higher fasting glucose, higher cystatin C, higher NT-proBNP, and accelerated epigenetic aging. Negative SPA were related to worse memory through lower Vitamin D3, higher fasting glucose, higher cystatin C, higher NT-proBNP, and accelerated epigenetic aging. The biomarkers explained between 2\% and 10\% of subjective age and between 1\% and 8\% of SPA associations with memory. Additional analysis revealed that biomarkers continued to be significant mediators when physical inactivity and depressive symptoms were included as additional mediators.

CONCLUSION: The present study adds to existing research on the association between subjective aging and memory by providing new evidence on the biological mediators of this association.

}, keywords = {biological factors, longitudinal, mechanisms, Memory, self-perceptions of aging, Subjective age}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbac155}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13168, title = {The mediating role of Vitamin D in the association between personality and memory: Evidence from two samples.}, journal = {Biol Psychol}, volume = {178}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Mar}, pages = {108525}, abstract = {

Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits are consistently related to cognition in old age. However, little is known about the biological mediators of this association. The present study examined whether levels of Vitamin D mediated the association between personality and memory. Participants were adults aged 50-96 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N~=~5229) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, N~=~4249). In HRS, personality and demographic factors were assessed in 2012/2014, Vitamin D was assessed in 2016, and memory was assessed in 2018. In ELSA, personality and demographic factors were obtained in 2010/2011, Vitamin D was measured in 2012/2013, and memory was assessed in 2014/2015. In both samples, higher extraversion and conscientiousness were related to higher levels of Vitamin D, whereas higher neuroticism was related to lower Vitamin D. In both samples, higher Vitamin D partly mediated the association between both higher extraversion and conscientiousness and better memory. The association between higher neuroticism and worse memory at follow-up was partially mediated by lower Vitamin D in the HRS and ELSA. Vitamin D did not mediate the association between higher openness and better memory. The present study extends the personality-cognition literature by providing new replicable evidence that Vitamin D is a biological mediator.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aging, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Neuroticism, Personality, Vitamin D}, issn = {1873-6246}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108525}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13262, title = {Personality and aging-related immune phenotype.}, journal = {Psychoneuroendocrinology}, volume = {153}, year = {2023}, pages = {106113}, abstract = {

An aging-related immune phenotype (ARIP) has been defined as a decrease in na{\"\i}ve T cells (T) relative to the accumulation of memory T cells (T). Recent research implicates ARIP measures, such as CD4~+T/T and CD8~+T/T ratios, in multimorbidity and mortality. This study examined whether psychological dispositions that assess how people think, feel, and behave are related to CD4~+T/T and CD8~+T/T. Participants were adults aged 50-104 years (N~=~4798; 58\% women, Mean Age= 67.95, SD= 9.56) from the Health and Retirement Study. Data on CD4~+T/T and CD8~+T/T were obtained in 2016. Data on personality, demographic factors, and potential clinical (body mass index, disease burden), behavioral (smoking, alcohol, physical activity), psychological (depressive symptoms, stress), and biological (cytomegalovirus IgG antibodies) mediating factors were obtained in 2014/2016. Controlling for demographic factors, higher conscientiousness was related to higher CD4~+T/T and CD8~+T/T. To a lesser extent, higher neuroticism and lower extraversion were associated with lower CD4~+T/T Physical activity, and to a lesser extent BMI and disease burden, were the most robust mediators between personality and ARIP measures. Cytomegalovirus IgG level mediated the association between conscientiousness and both CD4~+T/T and CD8~+T/T. This study provides novel evidence that personality is related to ARIP. Higher conscientiousness and, to a lesser extent, higher extraversion may be protective against age-related immunophenotype change, whereas neuroticism may be a risk factor.

}, keywords = {Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Male, Neuroticism, Personality, Personality Disorders}, issn = {1873-3360}, doi = {10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106113}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13431, title = {Personality and Risk of Incident Stroke in 6 Prospective Studies.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {54}, year = {2023}, pages = {2069-2076}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: A large literature has examined a broad range of factors associated with increased risk of stroke. Few studies, however, have examined the association between personality and stroke. The present study adopted a systematic approach using a multi-cohort design to examine the associations between 5-Factor Model personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and incident stroke using data from 6 large longitudinal samples of adults.

METHODS: Participants (age range: 16-104 years old, N=58 105) were from the MIDUS (Midlife in the United States) Study, the HRS (Health and Retirement Study), The US (Understanding Society) study, the WLS (Wisconsin Longitudinal Study), the NHATS (National Health and Aging Trends Study), and the LISS (Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences). Personality traits, demographic factors, clinical and behavioral risk factors were assessed at baseline; stroke incidence was tracked over 7 to 20 years follow-up.

RESULTS: Meta-analyses indicated that higher neuroticism was related to a higher risk of incident stroke (hazard ratio, 1.15 [95\% CI, 1.10-1.20]; <0.001), whereas higher conscientiousness was protective (HR, 0.89 [95\% CI, 0.85-0.93]; <0.001). Additional meta-analyses indicated that BMI, diabetes, blood pressure, physical inactivity, and smoking as additional covariates partially accounted for these associations. Extraversion, openness, and agreeableness were unrelated to stroke incidence.

CONCLUSIONS: Similar to other cardiovascular and neurological conditions, higher neuroticism is a risk factor for stroke incidence, whereas higher conscientiousness is a protective factor.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Middle Aged, Neuroticism, Personality, Prospective Studies, Stroke, United States, Young Adult}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.042617}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {12722, title = {The prospective relationship between subjective aging and inflammation: Evidence from the health and retirement study.}, journal = {Psychophysiology}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

This study tested the prospective associations and potential mediators between subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), and a range of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive proteins (CRP) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines among older adults. Participants (N~=~6099, 59\% women, age range~=~50 to 94, Mean Age~=~65.32, SD~=~8.85) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2008/2010. Assessments of soluble transformation growth factor-beta 1 (sTGF-β1), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR1), and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were measured in 2016. Potential mediators (body mass index, disease burden, physical inactivity, and depressive symptoms) were asssessed at baseline and in 2012/2014. Linear regression analyses indicated that an older subjective age and negative SPA were related to higher level of IL-10, IL-1Ra, IL-6, sTNFR1 and hsCRP. These associations were mediated by higher disease burden and physical inactivity. Negative SPA (but not subjective age) was associated with lower sTGF-β1. The link between subjective aging and inflammatory markers was relatively independent from chronological age. The present study provides new evidence that subjective aging is prospectively associated with inflammation, including systemic inflammation and pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

}, keywords = {anti-inflammatory cytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, self-perceptions of aging, Subjective age, systemic inflammation}, issn = {1540-5958}, doi = {10.1111/psyp.14177}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13516, title = {Purpose in life and cognitive performance and informant ratings of cognitive decline, affect, and activities.}, journal = {J Int Neuropsychol Soc}, year = {2023}, pages = {1-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine (1) the association between purpose in life and multiple domains of cognitive function and informant-rated cognitive decline, affect, and activities; (2) whether these associations are moderated by sociodemographic factors, cognitive impairment, or depression; (3) whether the associations are independent of other aspects of well-being and depressive symptoms.

METHOD: As part of the 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol from the Health and Retirement Study, participants completed a battery of cognitive tests and nominated a knowledgeable informant to rate their cognitive decline, affect, and activities. Participants with information available on their purpose in life from the 2014/2016 Leave Behind Questionnaire were included in the analytic sample ( = 2,812).

RESULTS: Purpose in life was associated with better performance in every cognitive domain examined (episodic memory, speed-attention, visuospatial skills, language, numeric reasoning; median =.10, <.001; median =.53). Purpose was likewise associated with informant-rated cognitive decline and informant-rated affective and activity profiles beneficial for cognitive health (median =.18, < .001; median =.55). There was little evidence of moderation by sociodemographic or other factors (e.g., depression). Life satisfaction, optimism, positive affect, and mastery were generally associated with cognition. When tested simultaneously with each other and depressive symptoms, most dimensions were reduced to non-significance; purpose remained a significant predictor.

CONCLUSIONS: Purpose in life is associated with better performance across numerous domains of cognition and with emotional and behavioral patterns beneficial for cognitive health that are observable by knowledgeable others. These associations largely generalize across demographic and clinical groups and are independent of other aspects of well-being.

}, keywords = {HCAP; cognitive domains; cognitive function; informant ratings; purpose in life; well-being}, issn = {1469-7661}, doi = {10.1017/S1355617723000516}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13139, title = {Sense of Purpose in Life and Beliefs and Knowledge of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease.}, journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Feb 04}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: A sense of purpose in life is associated with healthier cognitive outcomes, including lower risk of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease (ad). The present research examines whether purpose is also associated with beliefs and knowledge of ad.

METHOD: A random subsample (N = 1,187) of community-dwelling participants from the Health and Retirement Study completed a module on self-reported beliefs and knowledge of ad.

RESULTS: Purpose in life was associated with lower perceived threat of ad and greater belief that modifiable factors (e.g., physical activity) decrease risk. Associations were not moderated by experience with ad or depressive symptoms. Purpose was unrelated to beliefs that genetics or stress increase risk or knowledge of ad.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with a sense of purpose are less concerned about risk of developing ad and believe modifiable factors reduce risk. These beliefs may support engagement in behaviors that reduce risk and be one psychological pathway through which purpose protects against ad.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, beliefs, Knowledge}, issn = {1873-5843}, doi = {10.1093/arclin/acad014}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R and Stephan, Yannick and Luchetti, Martina and Aschwanden, Damaris and Sesker, Amanda A and Zhu, Xianghe and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {Sutin2023, title = {Sense of purpose in life and work-life tension: Perceptions of interference and enhancement}, journal = {Aging and Health Research}, volume = {3}, year = {2023}, note = {Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Gold Open Access}, type = {Article}, doi = {10.1016/j.ahr.2023.100154}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85166003472\&doi=10.1016\%2fj.ahr.2023.100154\&partnerID=40\&md5=61d5d1146dfd6872bbf04e77ab2d2232}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R. and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {13459, title = {A Simple Single Item Rated by an Interviewer Predicts Incident Dementia Over 15 Years.}, journal = {J Alzheimers Dis}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

Subjective memory is useful to detect cognitive deficits not apparent on objective tests. This research evaluates whether memory rated by an interviewer predicts incident dementia. Health and Retirement Study participants without cognitive impairment at baseline whose memory was rated by the interviewer were analyzed (N = 12,749). Worse interviewer-rated memory was associated with higher risk of incident dementia over 15 years (HR = 1.40, 95\% CI = 1.27-1.54). The association was evident even among participants in the top quartile of objective memory performance (HR = 1.71, 95\% CI = 1.26-2.32). Interviewer-rated memory may be a low-cost supplement to neuropsychological evaluation to predict dementia risk beyond self-reports and objective cognitive testing.

}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-230417}, author = {Sutin, Angelina R and Aschwanden, Damaris and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {12268, title = {Personality and change in perceived control during the acute stage of the coronavirus pandemic.}, journal = {Personality and Individual Differences}, volume = {192}, year = {2022}, pages = {111607}, abstract = {

Lower perceived control (PC) is related to maladaptive psychological responses to stressful events, yet it is unclear whether longer-term situations are associated with PC change over time. This study examined PC change during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and whether trajectories varied by age and personality. Personality was assessed in 2455 U.S. adults (18-100~years) from an online study conducted January-February 2020. PC was assessed across three follow-ups (March-July 2020). Latent growth curves modeled PC change. In controlled models, PC decreased (β~=~-0.107, ~=~.005). Older adults had higher PC than younger adults (β~=~0.012, ~=~.001), and experienced less PC decline (β~=~0.012, ~<~.001). All personality traits but Openness were related to PC at baseline (βs ranged from -0.912 to 0.543, ps~<~.001). Conscientiousness (β~=~0.155, ~=~.002), Extraversion (β~=~0.128, ~=~.008), and Agreeableness (β~=~0.099, ~=~.044) were associated with less PC decline. Employment (β~=~0.160, ~=~.022), health (β~=~0.133, ~=~.002), and disease burden (β~=~-0.056, ~=~.014) were also associated with PC change. These results were largely driven by the financial dimension of PC. This study provides evidence for PC change during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies sociodemographic, personality, and health moderators of PC trajectory.

}, keywords = {COVID-19, perceived control, Personality Traits}, issn = {0191-8869}, doi = {10.1016/j.paid.2022.111607}, author = {Sesker, Amanda A and Lee, Ji Hyun and Luchetti, Martina and Damaris Aschwanden and Stephan, Yannick and Terracciano, Antonio and Sutin, Angelina R} } @article {12474, title = {Personality and fatigue: meta-analysis of seven prospective studies.}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {12}, year = {2022}, pages = {9156}, abstract = {

The present study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the five major personality traits and fatigue. Participants were adults aged 16-104~years old (N > 40,000 at baseline) from the Health and Retirement Study, the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study graduate and sibling samples, the National Health and Aging Trends Survey, the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Personality traits, fatigue, demographic factors, and other covariates were assessed at baseline, and fatigue was assessed again 5-20~years later. Across all samples, higher neuroticism was related to a higher risk of concurrent (meta-analytic OR = 1.73, 95\% CI 1.62-1.86) and incident (OR = 1.38, 95\% CI 1.29-1.48) fatigue. Higher extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with a lower likelihood of concurrent (meta-analytic OR range 0.67-0.86) and incident (meta-analytic OR range 0.80-0.92) fatigue. Self-rated health and physical inactivity partially accounted for these associations. There was little evidence that age or gender moderated these associations. This study provides consistent evidence that personality is related to fatigue. Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are risk factors for fatigue.

}, keywords = {Cross-Sectional Studies, ELSA, Fatigue, Personality, Prospective Studies}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-12707-2}, author = {Stephan, Yannick and Sutin, Angelina R and Luchetti, Martina and Canada, Brice and Terracciano, Antonio} } @article {12682, title = {Subjective Cognitive Decline: Is a Resilient Personality Protective Against Progression to Objective Cognitive Impairment? Findings from Two Community-Based Cohort Studies.}, journal = {Journal of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease}, volume = {89}, year = {2022}, pages = {87-105}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is related to personality functioning and risk of subsequent objective cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether lower neuroticism and higher conscientiousness-resilient personality traits-protect against conversion from SCD to objective cognitive impairment in two longitudinal community-based cohorts.

METHODS: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,741, Mean age = 68.64 years, Follow-up mean = 7.34 years) and the National Health and Aging Trends Survey (N = 258, Mean age = 79.34 years, Follow-up mean = 4.31 years) were analyzed using Cox regression analysis, controlling for sociodemographic covariates, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and apolipoprotein ɛ4.

RESULTS: The pooled results showed that lower neuroticism and higher conscientiousness were associated with decreased risk of conversion from SCD to objective cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSION: Among individuals with SCD, those with a resilient personality may have more cognitive and psychological reserve to maintain cognitive functioning and delay conversion to objective cognitive impairment. The findings further contribute to a better understanding of personality along the cognitive continuum: The observed effect sizes were smaller than those reported in cognitively normal individuals but larger than in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Personality could provide useful information to identify individuals with SCD who may develop objective cognitive impairment-namely those who hold a vulnerable personality (higher neuroticism, lower conscientiousness).

}, keywords = {Apolipoprotein E4, Cognitive Dysfunction, Personality, Personality Disorders}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-220319}, author = {Aschwanden, Damaris and Sutin, Angelina R and Ledermann, Thomas and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Sesker, Amanda A and Zhu, Xianghe and Terracciano, Antonio} }