Neuroticism does not affect cognitive functioning in later life.

In a cross-sectional study, Jorm and colleagues (1993. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 721-723) found that neuroticism was related to poorer cognitive performance in the elderly. The present study was initiated to expand their findings using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Maastricht Aging Study.

Mental work demands protect against cognitive impairment: MAAS prospective cohort study.

Little is known about whether persons with mentally demanding jobs are protected against cognitive impairment and whether this association is independent of intellectual abilities and other confounders. Longitudinal data from the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS) were used to examine this association. After the 1993-1995 baseline examination, there was a first 3-year follow-up examination (1996-1998) among 630 men and women, aged 50 to 80, who exhibited no cognitive impairment at baseline.

Subjective sleep problems in later life as predictors of cognitive decline. Report from the Maastricht Ageing Study (MAAS).

Background: Although biological sleep criteria seem to be associated with cognitive changes in older people, it is not clear if subjective sleep parameters are related to cognitive decline in later life.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether subjective sleep complaints in a population-based sample of 838 middle aged and older adults (>or= 50 years) predicted cognitive decline over a period of 3 years.

Methods: Sleep complaints at baseline, assessed with the subscale Sleep Problems of the Symptoms Checklist-90, were used as a predictor variable.