Personality change in dementia of the Alzheimer type

Abstract

Although cognitive impairment is the predominant feature of dementia, personality changes are also frequently reported. This study aimed to describe the nature of personality change in dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and the relationship of this change to cognitive decline. An informant‐based instrument was developed based on a personality inventory designed by Lewis Goldberg for measuring personality in the normal population. Twenty‐eight clinicians used this inventory to rate the difference between people suffering from DAT and normal elderly people. Differences were found in all five factors of personality, with Conscientiousness and Intellect showing the most difference and Agreeabl..