Association of neuroticism with incident dementia and cognitive function: 26-year follow-up of EPIC-Norfolk study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neuroticism is a stable personality trait associated with increased vulnerability to mental and physical disorders. This study examined whether neuroticism is associated with the risk of dementia, particularly across the adult life course and over long-term follow-up.

Methods

We analysed data from 19,678 dementia-free participants (mean [standard deviation, SD] age, 60.8 [9.3] years) who had neuroticism assessed between 1996 and 2000. Incident dementia was identified via linked hospital inpatient, mental health and mortality records through 2022. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) per 1-SD increase in neuroticism. Secondary analyses examined interactions, mediation and associations with cognitive performance on eight tests.

Results

SUBMITTER: Gao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12640544 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature