Openness to experience and activity engagement facilitate the maintenance of verbal ability in older adults

Michael J. Hogan; Roger T. Staff; Brendan P. Bunting; Ian J. Deary; Lawrence J. Whalley

doi:10.1037/a0029066

Openness to experience and activity engagement facilitate the maintenance of verbal ability in older adults

Michael J. Hogan, Roger T. Staff, Brendan P. Bunting, Ian J. Deary, Lawrence J. Whalley

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The current study used data from the Aberdeen Birth Cohort, 1936, to investigate the hypothesis that the positive effects of the personality trait Openness on cognitive ability are mediated by activity levels. Results of latent growth modeling analysis revealed that higher Openness predicted better reading ability, inductive reasoning, and memory performance across three testing occasions when participants were aged 64-68 years. Higher Openness predicted higher activity levels, and higher activity levels in turn predicted higher reading ability, but not higher performance on measures of inductive reasoning, memory, and speed of processing. Overall, Openness and activity engagement appear related to preserved higher cognitive ability in older adults, with Openness having a direct effect on marker tests of fluid ability and with the combined influence of Openness and activity being particularly important for marker tests of crystallized intelligence.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	849-854
Number of pages	6
Journal	Psychology and Aging
Volume	27
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029066
Publication status	Published - Dec 2012

Keywords

Aging
Cognition
Openness
Personality

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10.1037/a0029066

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title = "Openness to experience and activity engagement facilitate the maintenance of verbal ability in older adults",

abstract = "The current study used data from the Aberdeen Birth Cohort, 1936, to investigate the hypothesis that the positive effects of the personality trait Openness on cognitive ability are mediated by activity levels. Results of latent growth modeling analysis revealed that higher Openness predicted better reading ability, inductive reasoning, and memory performance across three testing occasions when participants were aged 64-68 years. Higher Openness predicted higher activity levels, and higher activity levels in turn predicted higher reading ability, but not higher performance on measures of inductive reasoning, memory, and speed of processing. Overall, Openness and activity engagement appear related to preserved higher cognitive ability in older adults, with Openness having a direct effect on marker tests of fluid ability and with the combined influence of Openness and activity being particularly important for marker tests of crystallized intelligence.",

keywords = "Aging, Cognition, Openness, Personality",

author = "Hogan, \{Michael J.\} and Staff, \{Roger T.\} and Bunting, \{Brendan P.\} and Deary, \{Ian J.\} and Whalley, \{Lawrence J.\}",

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T1 - Openness to experience and activity engagement facilitate the maintenance of verbal ability in older adults

AU - Hogan, Michael J.

AU - Staff, Roger T.

AU - Bunting, Brendan P.

AU - Deary, Ian J.

AU - Whalley, Lawrence J.

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - The current study used data from the Aberdeen Birth Cohort, 1936, to investigate the hypothesis that the positive effects of the personality trait Openness on cognitive ability are mediated by activity levels. Results of latent growth modeling analysis revealed that higher Openness predicted better reading ability, inductive reasoning, and memory performance across three testing occasions when participants were aged 64-68 years. Higher Openness predicted higher activity levels, and higher activity levels in turn predicted higher reading ability, but not higher performance on measures of inductive reasoning, memory, and speed of processing. Overall, Openness and activity engagement appear related to preserved higher cognitive ability in older adults, with Openness having a direct effect on marker tests of fluid ability and with the combined influence of Openness and activity being particularly important for marker tests of crystallized intelligence.

AB - The current study used data from the Aberdeen Birth Cohort, 1936, to investigate the hypothesis that the positive effects of the personality trait Openness on cognitive ability are mediated by activity levels. Results of latent growth modeling analysis revealed that higher Openness predicted better reading ability, inductive reasoning, and memory performance across three testing occasions when participants were aged 64-68 years. Higher Openness predicted higher activity levels, and higher activity levels in turn predicted higher reading ability, but not higher performance on measures of inductive reasoning, memory, and speed of processing. Overall, Openness and activity engagement appear related to preserved higher cognitive ability in older adults, with Openness having a direct effect on marker tests of fluid ability and with the combined influence of Openness and activity being particularly important for marker tests of crystallized intelligence.

KW - Aging

KW - Cognition

KW - Openness

KW - Personality

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EP - 854

JO - Psychology and Aging

JF - Psychology and Aging

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ER -

Openness to experience and activity engagement facilitate the maintenance of verbal ability in older adults

Abstract

Keywords

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