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Alzheimer's Research & Therapy
Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Interaction between personality traits and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology modulates cognitive performance

Authors: Domilė Tautvydaitė, Deepti Kukreja, Jean-Philippe Antonietti, Hugues Henry, Armin von Gunten, Julius Popp

Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

During adulthood, personality characteristics may contribute to the individual capacity to compensate the impact of developing cerebral Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology on cognitive impairment in later life. In this study we aimed to investigate whether and how premorbid personality traits interact with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of AD pathology to predict cognitive performance in subjects with mild cognitive impairment or mild AD dementia and in participants with normal cognition.

Methods

One hundred and ten subjects, of whom 66 were patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild AD dementia and 44 were healthy controls, had a comprehensive medical and neuropsychological examination as well as lumbar puncture to measure CSF biomarkers of AD pathology (amyloid beta1–42, phosphorylated tau and total-tau). Participants’ proxies completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, Form R to retrospectively assess subjects’ premorbid personality.

Results

In hierarchical multivariate regression analyses, including age, gender, education, APOEε4 status and cognitive level, premorbid neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness modulated the effect of CSF biomarkers on cognitive performance. Low premorbid openness independently predicted lower levels of cognitive functioning after controlling for biomarker concentrations.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that specific premorbid personality traits are associated with cerebral AD pathology and modulate its impact on cognitive performance. Considering personality characteristics may help to appraise a person’s cognitive reserve and the risk of cognitive decline in later life.
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Metadata
Title
Interaction between personality traits and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology modulates cognitive performance
Authors
Domilė Tautvydaitė
Deepti Kukreja
Jean-Philippe Antonietti
Hugues Henry
Armin von Gunten
Julius Popp
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1758-9193
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-017-0235-0

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