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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach

Published on: February 14, 2014

Personality change in old age.

Nicola T Lautenschlager¹, Hans Förstl

¹School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia. nicola.lautenschlager@uwa.edu.au

Current Opinion in Psychiatry

|December 5, 2006

Summary

Personality changes in older adults are generally minimal. However, significant personality shifts may indicate underlying neurological conditions like dementia, requiring thorough neuropsychiatric evaluation.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Neuropsychiatry
Psychology

Background:

Aging is often associated with subtle personality shifts.
Understanding personality changes in older adults is crucial for diagnosing cognitive decline.
Previous research indicates minimal personality alterations in the general elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

To review significant personality changes observed in older adults.
To highlight the association between personality alterations and neurological conditions.
To emphasize the importance of neuropsychiatric assessment for personality changes in senescence.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on personality changes in aging.
Analysis of personality disorder prevalence in older populations.
Correlation of significant personality shifts with specific neurological diseases.

Main Results:

Most older adults exhibit minimal personality changes.
Prevalence of Cluster B personality disorders may decrease with age.
Significant personality changes are linked to frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and mild cognitive impairment.

Conclusions:

Significant personality changes in older adults are atypical.
Such changes necessitate comprehensive neuropsychiatric examination.
Early detection of underlying medical or neurological conditions is vital.