Dataset Information

Secular Improvements in Cognitive Aging: Contribution of Education, Health, and Routine Activities.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Limited evidence exists regarding the reasons for secular changes in cognitive functioning over historical time. Thus, we examined potential explanatory factors for changes in cognitive speed, a central dimension of cognitive functioning.

Methods

Population-based data of middle-aged and older adults from Germany (N = 5443) was used with baseline participants from 2002 to 2014, comparing the time periods 2002-2014.

Results

Cognitive speed improved in middle-aged adults (40-65) and older adults (66+). In both age groups, increases were partly explained by education, employment status, volunteering status, routine activities, and physical functioning. Changes in education were more important in explaining increases in older than in middle-aged adults, whereas changes in health were more important for explaining increases in middle-aged adults.

Conclusions

Cognitive speed increased in both age groups over historical time. Education, employment, volunteering, routine activities, and health were all important in explaining these changes, but their importance differed between age groups.

SUBMITTER: Beller J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9483682 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Secular Improvements in Cognitive Aging: Contribution of Education, Health, and Routine Activities.

Beller Johannes J Kuhlmann Beatrice G BG Sperlich Stefanie S Geyer Siegfried S

Journal of aging and health 20220112 6-8

<h4>Objectives</h4>Limited evidence exists regarding the reasons for secular changes in cognitive functioning over historical time. Thus, we examined potential explanatory factors for changes in cognitive speed, a central dimension of cognitive functioning.<h4>Methods</h4>Population-based data of middle-aged and older adults from Germany (<i>N</i> = 5443) was used with baseline participants from 2002 to 2014, comparing the time periods 2002-2014.<h4>Results</h4>Cognitive speed improved in middle ...[more]

PMID: 35018846

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Project description:Objective: The effects of normal cognitive aging on executive functions (EF), Verbal Episodic Memory (VEM) and the contribution of age, sex, education, and APOΕ ε4 in a group of old Greek Cypriots across a five-year period were investigated. Design: NEUROAGE, the first project on cognitive aging in Cyprus, is a prospective longitudinal study with a rolling admission process. Participants are assessed at baseline and retested every 24-30 months. Subjects: 170 participants completed all three testing cycles; 86 men and 84 women with ages ranging between 60 and 88 years (mean = 73.21, SD = 5.84); education, 2-20 years (mean = 9.07, SD = 4.27). Results: Α Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Covariance was conducted with one between-subject factor: sex; two covariates: age and education, while Time (time 1, time 2, time 3) served as a within - subject factor. Time did not have an effect on mini mental status examination in Greek (MMSE), EF or VEM. Also, sex had no effect on MMSE, EF and VEM. There was no time by sex interaction. Age and Education significantly predicted the EF performance, F(1, 168) = 11.23, p < 0.05; F(1, 158) = 90.03, p < 0.001 and VEM performance, F(1, 171) = 17.22, p < 0.001; F(1, 171) = 61.25, p < 0.001. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction effect between time and education, for EF, F(2, 167) = 7.02, p < 0.001. Performance of the APOE ε4 carriers did not differ on any of the above measures as compared to performance of non-carriers in this older adult group. Conclusion: Cognitively healthy adults maintained overall cognitive performance across the five-year period. Male and female participants performed similarly and the pattern of change over time was similar across the two sexes. Education was predictive of VEM and EF performance across time. Furthermore, those with higher education maintained higher levels of EF performance. APOE results did not differentiate performance at baseline. Implications of findings are discussed.

Dataset Information

Secular Improvements in Cognitive Aging: Contribution of Education, Health, and Routine Activities.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Secular Improvements in Cognitive Aging: Contribution of Education, Health, and Routine Activities.

Similar Datasets

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