Education, activity, health, blood pressure and apolipoprotein E as predictors of cognitive change in old age: A review
Abstract
Background: Cross-sectional studies have identified a number of health and lifestyle factors that correlate with cognitive function in old age. It is important to know whether these factors also predict change in cognitive function over time. Objective: To evaluate published findings on genetic, health and lifestyle predictors of cognitive change in late adulthood. Methods: Studies reporting data on education, health, blood pressure, activity and apolipoprotein E (APOE) as predictors of cognitive change were reviewed. A total of 34 studies were identified that reported data on these predictors. The average follow-up period of studies reviewed was 7.68 years. Results: Results showed that education, hypertension, objective indices of health and cardiovascular disease, and APOE were associated with cognitive change. Results regarding the effect of physical activity on cognitive change were inconclusive. Conclusion: Despite the lack of data on some predictors, the longitudinal trends are generally consistent with cross-sectional findings on predictors of cognitive performance in old age. More research is required to compare the influence of predictors on different types of cognitive abilities.
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Health-related indices are among the factors most consistently linked to adult cognitive changes.
“Given that health-related indices are among the factors most consistently linked to adult cognitive changes (for review, see Anstey & Christensen, 2000)”
From Cohort differences in cognitive aging and terminal decline in the Seattle Longitudinal Study. (2011) · cites this paper as Anstey & Christensen, 2000
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- Authors
- Anstey, K., & Christensen, H.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Australian National University (AU)
- Venue
- Gerontology
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2000
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 163-177
- ISSN
- 0304-324X (ISSN-L)
- 1423-0003
- OpenAlex
- W1973104713
- Cited by
- 377
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 8.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Gerontology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- 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 change, old age, education, hypertension, blood pressure, physical activity, apolipoprotein E, cardiovascular disease, health status, cognitive aging, predictors of cognitive decline
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Apolipoproteins E, Australia, Blood Pressure, Clinical Trials as Topic, Cognition Disorders, Educational Status, Female, Health Status, Humans, Life Style, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity
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