Stability, growth, and decline in adult life span development of declarative memory: Cross-sectional and longitudinal data from a population-based study
Abstract
Five-year changes in episodic and semantic memory were examined in a sample of 829 participants (35-80 years). A cohort-matched sample (N=967) was assessed to control for practice effects. For episodic memory, cross-sectional analyses indicated gradual age-related decrements, whereas the longitudinal data revealed no decrements before age 60, even when practice effects were adjusted for. Longitudinally, semantic memory showed minor increments until age 55, with smaller decrements in old age as compared with episodic memory. Cohort differences in educational attainment appear to account for the discrepancies between cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Collectively, the results show that age trajectories for episodic and semantic memory differ and underscore the need to control for cohort and retest effects in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, respectively.
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Historical increases in the quantity of educational attainment during the 20th century are a major factor underlying cognitive cohort differences.
“Our rationale was that historical increases in the quantity of educational attainment during the 20th century are a major factor underlying cognitive cohort differences (Alwin & McCammon, 2001; Hauser & Huang, 1997; Rönnlund et al., 2005).”
From Cohort differences in cognitive aging and terminal decline in the Seattle Longitudinal Study. (2011) · cites this paper as Rönnlund et al., 2005
Quantitative differences in schooling may underlie cohort differences in intellectual performance.
“Such quantitative differences in schooling may underlie cohort differences in intellectual performance (e.g., by promoting cognitive reserve; Rönnlund, Nyberg, Bäckman, & Nilsson, 2005; Stern, Albert, Tang, & Tsai, 1999).”
From Cohort differences in cognitive aging and terminal decline in the Seattle Longitudinal Study. (2011) · cites this paper as Rönnlund, Nyberg, Bäckman, & Nilsson, 2005
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- Authors
- Rönnlund, M., Nyberg, L., Bäckman, L., & Nilsson, L.-G.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Max Planck Society (DE)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Venue
- Psychology and Aging
- Published
- 2005-03
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-18
- ISSN
- 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1498
- OpenAlex
- W2067919562
- Cited by
- 839
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 68 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 59 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 7.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- episodic memory, semantic memory, declarative memory, age-related memory decline, cohort effects, practice effects, educational attainment, cognitive aging
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Life Change Events, Memory Disorders, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Population Surveillance, Semantics, Severity of Illness Index, Cohort Studies, Age Distribution
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