Common Ways Our Personality Changes as We Age

Often, close family members and caregivers can feel like an older person they’ve known and loved for years has suddenly become unrecognisable. This can be a very difficult time for spouses and other family members who feel like they have lost parts of their loved one that they have always cherished. Personality changes are common for elderly people. These changes occur for a number of reasons, such as health issues, other underlying medical issues and situational factors in their life.

For caregivers, it’s important to understand what’s normal and what’s not in terms of personality changes, as dramatic, sudden changes can signify a deeper problem. The following are some of the more common personality changes that are typically a normal part of ageing.  However, if you are concerned about any personality changes that an elderly loved one is experiencing, it’s worth seeking advice from a medical professional.

Common Personality Changes in Older Adults

• Sadness: Older adults experience a lot of loss in terms of their abilities, health and even the death of friends or their significant other. As such, sadness is common. However, extreme sadness that lasts for many weeks or months may be indicative of an issue that may require therapy or medication.
• Irritability: Pain, stress, and loneliness are all factors that can lead to irritability in older adults. If the older adult has become overly aggressive or cruel, it may be necessary to speak to a health professional, as this may be due to underlying issues such as depression, dementia or chronic pain.
• Forgetfulness: Occasional, short lapses in memory are normal for older adults. However, significant episodes of memory loss, such as forgetting someone they have known for their whole life, may be the result of dementia and should be evaluated by a doctor.
• Reckless Behaviour: Some seniors use their later years to enjoy life and experience some of the things they have not previously done, such as travelling abroad or hot air ballooning. However, some risk-taking behaviours may raise alarm bells. For example, if the older adult suddenly takes up gambling, drinking more alcohol, or even using illegal drugs.

Common Causes of Sudden Personality Change

The above are common personality traits that may be experienced by people of any age. However, more significant personality changes should be assessed by a health doctor. For example, extreme impulsiveness, paranoia, and social withdrawal can all be signs of a deeper underlying medical problem. Sudden personality changes may be caused by the following: 

• Dementia: In 2021, there are an estimated 472,000 Australians living with dementia. There are a number of early indicators of dementia, such as lethargy, irritability, anti-social behaviour, and memory and language issues.
• Medication Issues: In many cases, older adults have to use more than one medication to treat their range of chronic conditions. Combining certain drugs can result in personality changes.
• Depression: Older adults experience a number of significant life events, such as retiring or moving out of the family home. They will also typically lose a certain amount of freedom as a result of declining health. This can have an impact on their mental wellbeing and lead to deep sadness. It’s important to monitor an older adult’s emotional state, as they may try to hide their feelings of sadness, and it may instead come out in anger or aggression.
• Sleeping Problems: It is common for older adults to have difficulty sleeping. In extreme circumstances, a lack of sleep can result in issues such as memory lapses, confusion and depression. It can be difficult to diagnose sleep deprivation as the symptoms can be similar to other health issues such as dementia.
• ‍Urinary Tract Infections: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can cause profound behavioural changes such as confusion, agitation, and withdrawal. UTIs are more common in women than men, particularly for older women who can have trouble drinking enough water during the day. If you expect an older relative may have a UTI, it’s important to seek advice from a doctor.
• Stroke:‍ According to the American Stroke Association, around 20% of stroke survivors are left with cognitive impairments. As we get older, we are at increased risk of experiencing issues after a stroke, such as confusion, memory loss and decreased attention span. The specific behavioural changes that occur as a result of stroke is dependent on the part of the brain that was affected. If the older adult has not been evaluated for a stroke, it’s important to have them checked out as soon as possible by a doctor.

For more information on this article, or the other services that we provide, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Brain Sparks. If you’re currently caring for an older relative, our courses or workshops may be helpful.