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High Openness, Low Neuroticism: Better Memory in MS

Mult Scler; ePub 2017 Jan 9; Leavitt, Buyukturkoglu, et al

Publish date:: January 24, 2017

Personality may inform predictive models of memory impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study. In order to examine relationships of personality to memory/non-memory cognition in MS, researchers had 80 patients complete a cognitive battery and a personality scale measuring the Big 5 traits: openness, neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, and conscientiousness. They found:

Memory was most related to openness, with higher openness linked to better memory and lower risk for memory impairment, controlling for age, atrophy, education, and intelligence quotient (IQ).
Lower neuroticism was also related to better memory, and lower conscientiousness to memory impairment.
Non-memory cognition was unrelated to personality.

Citation:

Leavitt VM, Buyukturkoglu K, Inglese M, Sumowski JF. Protective personality traits: High openness and low neuroticism linked to better memory in multiple sclerosis. [Published online ahead of print January 9, 2017]. Mult Scler. doi:10.1177/1352458516685417.

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