Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
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Acta Psychiatr Scand · Jan 2014
A 37-year prospective study of neuroticism and extraversion in women followed from mid-life to late life.
Personality traits are presumed to endure over time, but the literature regarding older age is sparse. Furthermore, interpretation may be hampered by the presence of dementia-related personality changes. The aim was to study stability in neuroticism and extraversion in a population sample of women who were followed from mid-life to late life. ⋯ Personality is stable at the population level, but there is significant individual variability. These changes could not be attributed to dementia. Research is needed to examine determinants of these changes, as well as their clinical implications.