Personality as a source of individual differences in cognition among older African Americans

Previous research suggests that demographic factors are important correlates of cognitive functioning in African Americans; however, less attention has been given to the influence of personality. The present study explored how dimensions and facets of personality predicted individual variability in cognition in a sample of older African Americans from the Baltimore Study of Black Aging. Cognition was assessed by verbal learning and attention/working memory measures. Personality was measured by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. Linear regressions controlling for demographic factors showed that Neuroticism, Openness, and Agreeableness were significant regression predictors of cognitive performance. Individual facets of all five personality dimensions were also associated with cognitive performance. These findings suggest personality is important in understanding variability in cognition among older African Americans.

► We studied how personality predicted cognitive function in older African Americans.
► Cognition was assessed by seven attention and memory measures. Personality was measured by the NEO Personality Inventory.
► Linear regressions showed that Neuroticism, Openness, and Agreeableness predicted cognition.