Contributions
Abstract: P523
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Personality traits predict memory: healthy adults with high openness (a trait comprising intellectual curiosity, aesthetic sensitivity, imagination) have better memory; persons with high neuroticism have worse memory. We recently demonstrated a relationship between this personality profile (high openness/low neuroticism) and better memory in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we investigate the relationship of hippocampal volume to the openness/neuroticism personality profile in persons with MS.
Methods: 37 MS patients (28 female, age 53.5±8.7 years, education 15.2±2.4 years, disease duration 15.5±7.9 years, phenotype: 29 RRMS, 6 SPMS, 2 PPMS) completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, a 60-item scale yielding 5 scores: openness, neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness. Memory composite included verbal and visual memory measures (age-adjusted norm-referenced mean t-score= 42.5±11.8). Premorbid intelligence (IQ) was measured with the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (mean: 106.8±13.0). 3.0T MRIs (analyzed with Freesurfer) yielded normalized volume for the hippocampus. Partial correlations (controlling for demographics and IQ) examined the relationship of openness/neuroticism to memory. Then, we examined the relationship of hippocampal volume to openness/neuroticism.
Results: Expression of this high openness/low neuroticism profile was related to better memory
(rp=.386, p=.024), and larger hippocampal volume (rp=.353, p=.040).
Conclusions: High openness and low neuroticism may predispose individuals to participate in stimulating activities that benefit/protect memory; these results suggest that this effect may be mediated by the hippocampus. Our prior research has shown a link between frequent engagement in cognitively enriching adulthood activities (i.e., reading/writing) and better memory / larger hippocampal volume in persons with MS. Here, we provide the first evidence for a neural basis of the protective impact of personality factors on memory function in persons with MS, and promote personality factors and hippocampal volume as risk factors/treatment targets for understanding/predicting memory impairment in MS.
Disclosure:
Victoria M Leavitt: nothing to disclose
James F Sumowski: nothing to disclose
Abstract: P523
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Personality traits predict memory: healthy adults with high openness (a trait comprising intellectual curiosity, aesthetic sensitivity, imagination) have better memory; persons with high neuroticism have worse memory. We recently demonstrated a relationship between this personality profile (high openness/low neuroticism) and better memory in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we investigate the relationship of hippocampal volume to the openness/neuroticism personality profile in persons with MS.
Methods: 37 MS patients (28 female, age 53.5±8.7 years, education 15.2±2.4 years, disease duration 15.5±7.9 years, phenotype: 29 RRMS, 6 SPMS, 2 PPMS) completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, a 60-item scale yielding 5 scores: openness, neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness. Memory composite included verbal and visual memory measures (age-adjusted norm-referenced mean t-score= 42.5±11.8). Premorbid intelligence (IQ) was measured with the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (mean: 106.8±13.0). 3.0T MRIs (analyzed with Freesurfer) yielded normalized volume for the hippocampus. Partial correlations (controlling for demographics and IQ) examined the relationship of openness/neuroticism to memory. Then, we examined the relationship of hippocampal volume to openness/neuroticism.
Results: Expression of this high openness/low neuroticism profile was related to better memory
(rp=.386, p=.024), and larger hippocampal volume (rp=.353, p=.040).
Conclusions: High openness and low neuroticism may predispose individuals to participate in stimulating activities that benefit/protect memory; these results suggest that this effect may be mediated by the hippocampus. Our prior research has shown a link between frequent engagement in cognitively enriching adulthood activities (i.e., reading/writing) and better memory / larger hippocampal volume in persons with MS. Here, we provide the first evidence for a neural basis of the protective impact of personality factors on memory function in persons with MS, and promote personality factors and hippocampal volume as risk factors/treatment targets for understanding/predicting memory impairment in MS.
Disclosure:
Victoria M Leavitt: nothing to disclose
James F Sumowski: nothing to disclose