Assessing the Effects of Healthy and Neuropathological Aging on Personality with the Iowa Scales of Personality Change

Dev Neuropsychol. 2021 Aug;46(5):393-408. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2021.1956500. Epub 2021 Jul 20.

Abstract

Personality changes in older adults with brain disease may be confounded by effects of normal aging. In this cross-sectional study, ratings with the Iowa Scales of Personality Change for 62 healthy older adults (OA-H, aged 60+) were compared to matched older adults with brain diseases (OA-BD). OA-H did not show any significant personality changes from middle age to older adulthood. However, between 10% and 20% of OA-H developed a disturbance in Lack of Stamina, Inflexibility, Lability, and Lack of Insight. Otherwise, the pattern of findings suggesting normal aging effects on personality disturbances in clinical groups are generally minimal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Iowa
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Personality*