Estimation of cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive performance in older adults

Abstract

Objectives: Cognitive reserve provides evidence in the search for answers regarding the role that lifestyle has in the protection of cognition in old age. Through a structural equations model, different things were analyzed: the relative weight of education, occupational complexity, free time activities and the intelligence quotient in cognitive reserve; and its impact on three cognitive domains: memory, language and executive functions.

Design: A trail analysis was executed, using structural equations procedure.

Participants: 167 older participants (mean = 76.74 years, standard deviation = 6.8 years).

Measurements: Participants were assessed with: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Occupational Activity Agency Questionnaire, Social Participation Questionnaire and Neuropsychological Evaluation Battery for: memory, language and executive functions.

Results: The cognitive reserve factor is well represented by the measures included, with values ​​between .43 and .86, and shows a direct effect on language (β = .52, p < .001), executive functions (β = .77, p <.001), and memory (β = .36, p = .003).

Conclusions: In conclusion, lifestyle factors, such as education, occupational complexity, leisure time activities and intelligence quotient have an impact on the conformation of cognitive reserve and performance in some psychological processes.

Keywords: Aging; cognitive reserve; executive functions; language; lifestyle; memory.