Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
The relationship between cognitive reserve and personality traits: a pilot study on a healthy aging Italian sample
Barbara Colombo1, Giulia Piromalli2, Brittany Pins3
1Neuroscience Lab, Champlain College, 163 South Willard Street, 05401, Burlington, VT, USA. bcolombo@champlain.edu.
Background:
Exploring the role of different individual factors in affecting the cognitive reserve levels is crucial step for aging research. Several studies explored the relationship between personality traits and aging, but a specific focus on the cognitive reserve is missing.
Aims:
This study aimed at collecting more direct evidence about possible relationships between cognitive reserve and personality traits.
Methods:
A sample of 100 healthy aging participants was involved in the study. They completed the Big Five personality inventory and a test to assess the cognitive reserve.
Results:
Results returned a positive relationship between the personality traits and participants' cognitive reserve. The only factor that did not return a significant correlation was Emotional stability (which overlaps with Neuroticism).
Discussion:
This study provides additional evidence to the existing literature and also adds relevant information and a critical reading regarding the role of personality traits that has been neglected in the aging literature, Friendliness and Conscientiousness.
Conclusion:
The ability to measure and identify personality traits could be important in future research for developing interventions or activities that could target specific personality characteristics.
More Related Videos
10:13Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
07:01Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
Cattell's 16 Personality Factors
In contrast, source traits are the...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Cultural Influences on Personality
Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...