Is increased life stress associated with similar changes in Big-Five Personality across Cognitive Impairment or Dementia (CI/D) and Non-CI/D cases?

Abstract Objective: This study investigates how life stress correlates with changes in Big-Five personality factors among individuals with and without cognitive impairment or dementia (CI/D). Methods: Utilizing data from 12,445 participants aged 50 or above in the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2020), we examined personality changes over an 8-year period. Participants were categorized into CI/D and Non-CI/D groups based on a cut-off score in the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m). Our analysis regresses estimated personality changes on baselines and variations of a Life Stress index during the same timeframe. Results: Increased life stress is associated with heightened neuroticism and reduced conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness across both CI/D and Non-CI/D cases. These correlations persist irrespective of TICS-m score variations within each group. Discussion: life stress as a significant factor in personality changes, cautioning against diagnostic interpretations of cognitive impairment that rely solely on personality assessments.