Early and late life cognitive activity and cognitive systems in old age
Abstract
Little is known about the relative benefits of cognitively stimulating activities at different points in the lifespan. In a cohort of 576 older persons without dementia, we assessed current and past (childhood, young adulthood, middle age) frequency of cognitive activity; availability of cognitively stimulating resources in the home in childhood and middle age; and 5 domains of cognitive function. Past cognitive activity and cognitive resources were positively correlated with both current cognitive activity and current cognitive function. The association with cognitive function was reduced after controlling for current cognitive activity, however. Current cognitive activity was associated with better cognitive function, especially semantic memory and perceptual speed, even after controlling for past activity. The results suggest that past cognitive activity contributes to current cognition principally through its association with cognitive activity in old age.
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Retrospective estimates of early-life cognitive activity and indicators of early-life socioeconomic status are positively correlated with late-life level of cognitive activity, but the associations are far from perfect.
“retrospective estimates of early-life cognitive activity and indicators of early-life socioeconomic status are positively correlated with late-life level of cognitive activity, but the associations are far from perfect (Wilson, Barnes, Krueger, et al., 2005).”
From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Wilson, Barnes, Krueger, et al., 2005
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“, reading a newspaper) over the past year [19].”
BackgroundSelf-citation
- Authors
- WILSON, R. S., BARNES, L. L., KRUEGER, K. R., HOGANSON, G., BIENIAS, J. L., & BENNETT, D. A.
- Affiliations
- Rush University Medical Center (US)
- Venue
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2005-07
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 400-407
- ISSN
- 1355-6177 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7661
- OpenAlex
- W1931372835
- Cited by
- 355
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 9.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG017917, R01‐AG17917)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- cognitive activity, cognitive stimulation, lifespan, older adults, cognitive function, semantic memory, perceptual speed, cognitive aging, dementia-free older adults
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Mental Status Schedule, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Perception, Psychometrics, Psychomotor Performance, Geriatric Assessment, Life
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