Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:51:53.012Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

29 - Cognition and Well-Being across Adulthood and Old Age

from Part IV - Cognitive, Social, and Biological Factors across the Lifespan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2020

Ayanna K. Thomas
Affiliation:
Tufts University, Massachusetts
Angela Gutchess
Affiliation:
Brandeis University, Massachusetts
Get access

Summary

Life-span theory has long emphasized that cognitive functioning and well-being are key constituents of successful development and aging. There is mounting empirical evidence that these central domains of life are closely intertwined, with better performance on a number of cognitive ability tests going hand in hand with higher levels of well-being and satisfaction. Less well understood, however, are the multiple different sets of pathways that underlie how and why well-being either represents a consequence of cognitive functioning and development or operates as an antecedent condition thereof. The major objective of the current chapter is to provide a select overview of (1) an exemplary set of mechanisms that help explain the often dynamic and reciprocal links between the two major areas of life and (2) the role that several layers of individual and contextual factors play as resources and constraints. To do so, we proceed in four steps. First, we review conceptual considerations and empirical evidence on stability and change in well-being from mid adulthood to very old age, the vast individual differences in levels and rates of change, and how these differences are shaped by cognitive functioning and change. Second, we consider how well-being may serve as an antecedent of functioning and development of cognitive performance and abilities. Third, we present stress reactivity, health behaviors, social participation, and neurological pathways as some of the presumed underlying processes. Finally, we discuss the role that resources and constraints at individual and contextual levels may play for linking cognition and well-being.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Cognitive Aging
A Life Course Perspective
, pp. 532 - 551
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allerhand, M., Gale, C. R., & Deary, I. J. (2014). The dynamic relationship between cognitive function and positive well-being in older people: A prospective study using the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. Psychology and Aging, 29, 306318. doi: 10.1037/a0036551Google Scholar
Anstey, K. J., Windsor, T. D., Jorm, A. F., Christensen, H., & Rodgers, B. (2004). Association of pulmonary function with cognitive performance in early, middle and late adulthood. Gerontology, 50, 230234. doi: 10.1159/000078352CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bäckman, L., Jones, S., Small, B. J., Agüero-Torres, H., & Fratiglioni, L. (2003). Rate of cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease: The role of comorbidity. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58, 228236. doi: 10.1093/geronb/58.4.P228Google Scholar
Baltes, P. B., Lindenberger, U., & Staudinger, U. M. (2006). Life-span theory in developmental psychology. In Lerner, R. M. (Ed.), Theoretical models of human development (Handbook of child psychology, Vol. 1), 6th ed. (pp. 569664). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Bandura, A. (1991). Self-efficacy mechanism in physiological activation and health-promoting behavior. In Madden, J. (Ed.), Neurobiology of learning, emotion, and affect (pp. 229269). New York: Raven.Google Scholar
Bherer, L. (2015). Cognitive plasticity in older adults: Effects of cognitive training and physical exercise. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1337, 16. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12682CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bielak, A. A. M., Christensen, H., & Windsor, T. D. (2012). Activity engagement is related to level, but not change in cognitive ability across adulthood. Psychology and Aging, 27, 219228. doi: 10.1037/a0024667CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blanchflower, D. G., & Oswald, A. J. (2004). Well-being over time in Britain and the USA. Journal of Public Economics, 88, 13591386. doi: 10.1016/S0047-2727(02)00168-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bookwala, J., & Schulz, R. (1996). Spousal similarity in subjective well-being: The cardiovascular health study. Psychology and Aging, 11, 582590. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.11.4.582CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bourassa, K. J., Memel, M., Woolverton, C., & Sbarra, D. A. (2015). Social participation predicts cognitive functioning in aging adults over time: Comparisons with physical health, depression, and physical activity. Aging and Mental Health, 21, 133146. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1081152Google Scholar
Boyle, P. A., Buchman, A. S., Wilson, R. S., et al. (2012). Effect of purpose in life on the relation between Alzheimer disease pathologic changes on cognitive function in advanced age. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69, 499505. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.1487Google Scholar
Braun, T., Schmukle, S. C., & Kunzmann, U. (2017). Stability and change in subjective well-being: The role of performance-based and self-rated cognition. Psychology and Aging, 32, 105117. doi: 10.1037/pag0000153Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). Recent advances in research on the ecology of human development. In Silbereisen, R. K., Eyferth, K., & Rudinger, G. (Eds.), Development as action in context. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.Google Scholar
Brose, A., Lövdén, M., & Schmiedek, F. (2014). Daily fluctuations in positive affect positively co-vary with working memory performance. Emotion, 14, 16. doi: 10.1037/a0035210Google Scholar
Charles, S. T. (2010). Strength and vulnerability integration: A model of emotional well-being across adulthood. Psychological Bulletin, 136, 10681091. doi: 10.1037/a0021232Google Scholar
Charles, S. T., Piazza, J. R., Mogle, J., Sliwinski, M. J., & Almeida, D. M. (2013). The wear and tear of daily stressors on mental health. Psychological Science, 24, 733741. doi: 10.1177/0956797612462222Google Scholar
Chodzko-Zajko, W. J. (1991). Physical fitness, cognitive performance, and aging. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, 23, 868872. doi: 10.1249/00005768-199107000-0001.Google Scholar
Chow, S.-M., Hamagani, F., & Nesselroade, J. R. (2007). Age differences in dynamical emotion-cognition linkages. Psychology and Aging, 22, 765780. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.22.4.765Google Scholar
Cohen, S. (2004). Social relationships and health. American Psychologist, 59, 676684. doi: 10.1037/0003-066x.59.8.676Google Scholar
Crimmins, E. M., & Beltran-Sanchez, H. (2011). Mortality and morbidity trends: Is there compression of morbidity? Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66, 7586. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq088Google Scholar
Crimmins, E. M., Kim, J. K., & Solé-Auró, A. (2010). Gender differences in health: Results from SHARE, ELSA and HRS. European Journal of Public Health, 21, 8191. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq022Google Scholar
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2006). Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: An introduction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 111. doi: 10.1007/s10902-006-9018-1Google Scholar
Dixon, R. A., & Gould, O. N. (1996). Adults telling and retelling stories collaboratively. In Baltes, P. B. & Staudinger, U. M. (Eds.), Interactive minds: Life-span perspective on the social foundation of cognition. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Dolcos, S., Moore, M., & Katsumi, Y. (2018). Neuroscience and well-being. In Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Tay, L. (Eds.), Handbook of well-being. Salt Lake City, UT: DEF.Google Scholar
Driver, J. A., Djousse, L., Logroscino, G., Gaziano, J. M., & Kurth, T. (2008). Incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer in advanced age: Prospective cohort study. BMJ, 337, 24672467. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a2467Google Scholar
Dunlosky, J., & Hertzog, C. (1998). Aging and deficits in associative memory: What is the role of strategy production? Psychology and Aging, 13, 597607. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.13.4.597Google Scholar
Ebner, N. C., Kamin, H., Diaz, V., Cohen, R. A., & MacDonald, K. (2015). Hormones as “difference makers” in cognitive and socioemotional aging processes. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1595. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01595Google Scholar
Elder, G. H., Jr. (1974). Children of the Great Depression: Social change in life experience. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Enkvist, Å., Ekström, H., & Elmståhl, S. (2013). Associations between cognitive abilities and life satisfaction in the oldest-old. European Geriatric Medicine, 4, 910. doi: 10.1016/j.eurger.2013.07.017CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finkel, D., Reynolds, C. A., McArdle, J. J., & Pedersen, N. L. (2007). Cohort differences in trajectories of cognitive aging. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62, 286294. doi: 10.1093/geronb/62.5.p286Google Scholar
Flynn, J. R. (1999). Searching for justice: The discovery of IQ gains over time. American Psychologist, 54, 520. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.54.1.5Google Scholar
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56, 218226. doi: 10.1037/0003-066x.56.3.218Google Scholar
Galenkamp, H., Gagliardi, C., Principi, A., et al. (2016). Predictors of social leisure activities in older Europeans with and without multimorbidity. European Journal of Ageing, 13, 129143. doi: 10.1007/s10433-016-0375-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerstorf, D., Hoppmann, C. A., Kadlec, K. M., & McArdle, J. J. (2009). Memory and depressive symptoms are dynamically linked among married couples: Longitudinal evidence from the AHEAD Study. Developmental Psychology, 45, 15951610. doi: 10.1037/a0016346Google Scholar
Gerstorf, D., Hueluer, G., Drewelies, J., et al. (2015). Secular changes in late-life cognition and well-being: Towards a long bright future with a short brisk ending? Psychology and Aging, 30, 301310. doi: 10.1037/pag0000016Google Scholar
Gerstorf, D., Lövdén, M., Röcke, C., Smith, J., & Lindenberger, U. (2007). Well-being affects changes in perceptual speed in advanced old age: Longitudinal evidence for a dynamic link. Developmental Psychology, 43, 705718. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.43.3.70Google Scholar
Gerstorf, D., & Ram, N. (2013). Inquiry into terminal decline: Five objectives for future study. Gerontologist, 53, 727737. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt046CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gray, J. R., Braver, T. S., & Raichle, M. E. (2002). Integration of emotion and cognition in the lateral prefrontal cortex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 99, 41154120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.062381899CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heffner, K. L. (2011). Neuroendocrine effects of stress on immunity in the elderly: Implications for inflammatory disease. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, 31, 95108. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2010.09.005Google Scholar
Hertzog, C., Kramer, A. F., Wilson, R. S., & Lindenberger, U. (2008). Enrichment effects on adult cognitive development. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9, 165. doi: 10.1111/j.1539-6053.2009.01034.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hoppmann, C. A., & Gerstorf, D. (2016). Social interrelations in aging: The sample case of married couples. In Schaie, K. W. & Willis, S. L. (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of aging, 8th ed. (pp. 263277). San Diego: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Hülür, G., Hoppmann, C. A., Ram, N., & Gerstorf, D. (2015). Developmental associations between short-term variability and long-term changes: Intraindividual correlation of positive and negative affect in daily life and cognitive aging. Developmental Psychology, 51, 987997. doi: 10.1037/a0039341Google Scholar
Hultsch, D. F., Hertzog, C., Small, B. J., & Dixon, R. A. (1999). Use it or lose it: Engaged lifestyle as a buffer of cognitive decline in aging? Psychology and Aging, 14, 245263. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.14.2.245Google Scholar
Huxhold, O., Fiori, K. L., & Windsor, T. D. (2013). The dynamic interplay of social network characteristics, subjective well-being, and health: The costs and benefits of socio-emotional selectivity. Psychology and Aging, 28, 316. doi: 10.1037/a0030170Google Scholar
Infurna, F. J., & Gerstorf, D. (2014). Perceived control relates to better functional health and lower cardio-metabolic risk: The mediating role of physical activity. Health Psychology, 33, 8594. doi: 10.1037/a0030208.Google Scholar
Jorm, A. F. (2000). Is depression a risk factor for dementia or cognitive decline? Gerontology, 46, 219227. doi: 10.1159/000022163CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kim, E. S., Kubzansky, L. D., Soo, J., & Boehm, J. K. (2016). Maintaining healthy behavior: A prospective study of psychological well-being and physical activity. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51, 337347. doi: 10.1007/s12160-016-9856-yGoogle Scholar
Kirsch, J. A., & Ryff, C. D. (2016). Hardships of the Great Recession and health: Understanding varieties of vulnerability. Health Psychology Open, 3(1). doi: 10.1177/2055102916652390Google Scholar
Lachman, M. E., Neupert, S. D., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2011). The relevance of control beliefs for health and aging. In Schaie, K. W. & Willis, S. L. (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of aging, 7th ed. (pp. 175190). San Diego: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P. (1983). Environment and other determinants of well-being in older people. Gerontologist, 23, 349357. doi: 10.1093/geront/23.4.349Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P., & Nahemow, L. (1973). Ecology and the aging process. In Eisdorfer, C. & Lawton, M. P. (Eds.), The psychology of adult development and aging (pp. 619674). Washington: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Levy, B. R. (2003). Mind matters: Cognitive and physical effects of aging self-stereotypes. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58, 203211. doi: 10.1093/geronb/58.4.p203CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Llewellyn, D. J., Lang, I. A., Langa, K. M., & Huppert, F. A. (2008). Cognitive function and psychological well-being: Findings from a population-based cohort. Age and Ageing, 37, 685689. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afn194Google Scholar
Lövdén, M., Ghisletta, P., & Lindenberger, U. (2005). Social participation attenuates decline in perceptual speed in old and very old age. Psychology and Aging, 20, 423434. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.20.3.423Google Scholar
Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803855. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803Google Scholar
MacDonald, S. W. S., DeCarlo, C. A., & Dixon, R. A. (2011). Linking biological and cognitive aging: Toward improving characterizations of developmental time. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66, 5970. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr039Google Scholar
Maier, H., & Smith, J. (1999). Psychological predictors of mortality in old age. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 54, 4454. doi: 10.1093/geronb/54B.1.P44Google Scholar
Margrett, J. A., & Marsiske, M. (2002). Gender differences in older adults’ everyday cognitive collaboration. International Journal of Behavior Development, 26, 4559. doi: 10.1080/01650250143000319Google Scholar
Monin, J. K., Levy, B. R., & Kane, H. S. (2015). To love is to suffer: Older adults’ daily emotional contagion to perceived spousal suffering. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 72, 383387. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbv070Google Scholar
Munoz, E., Stawski, R. S., Sliwinski, M. J., Smyth, J. M., & MacDonald, S. W. S. (2018). The ups and downs of cognitive function: neuroticism and negative affect drive performance inconsistency. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, gby032. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gby032Google Scholar
Napoli, C., & Palinski, W. (2005). Neurodegenerative diseases: Insights into pathogenic mechanisms from atherosclerosis. Neurobiology of Aging, 26, 293302. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2004.02.031Google Scholar
Nyström, M. B. T., Sörman, D. E., Kormi-Nouri, R., & Rönnlund, M. (2017). To what extent is subjective well-being in late adulthood related to subjective and objective memory functioning? Five-year cross-lagged panel analyses. Aging and Mental Health, 23, 9299. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1394439CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ong, A. D., Mroczek, D. K., & Riffin, C. (2011). The health significance of positive emotions in adulthood and later life. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5, 538551. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00370.xGoogle Scholar
Ormel, J., Rijsdijk, F. V., Sullivan, M., van Sonderen, E., & Kempen, G. I. (2002). Temporal and reciprocal relationship between IADL/ADL disability and depressive symptoms in late life. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57, 338347. doi: 10.1093/geronb/57.4.P338Google Scholar
Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 164172. doi: 10.1037/1040-3590.5.2.164Google Scholar
Raz, N., & Daugherty, A. M. (2018). Pathways to brain aging and their modifiers: Free-radical-induced energetic and neural decline in senescence (FRIENDS) model – a mini-review. Gerontology, 64, 4957. doi: 10.1159/000479508CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rutledge, R. B., Skandali, N., Dayan, P., & Dolan, R. J. (2015). Dopaminergic modulation of decision making and subjective well-being. Journal of Neuroscience, 35, 98119822. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.0702-15.2015Google Scholar
Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 719727. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719Google Scholar
Salthouse, T. A. (2004). What and when of cognitive aging. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13, 140144. doi: 10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.00293.xGoogle Scholar
Schaie, K. W., Willis, S. L., & Pennak, S. (2005). An historical framework for cohort differences in intelligence. Research in Human Development, 2, 4367. doi: 10.1080/15427609.2005.9683344Google Scholar
Schoellgen, I., Morack, J., Infurna, F. J., Ram, N., & Gerstorf, D. (2016). Health sensitivity: Age differences in the within-person coupling of individuals’ physical health and well-being. Developmental Psychology, 52, 19441953. doi: 10.1037/dev0000171Google Scholar
Seeman, T. E., Lusignolo, T. M., Albert, M., & Berkman, L. (2001). Social relationships, social support, and patterns of cognitive aging in healthy, high-functioning older adults: MacArthur studies of successful aging. Health Psychology, 20, 243255. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.20.4.243Google Scholar
Sharot, T., Guitart-Masip, M., Korn, C. W., Chowdhury, R., & Dolan, R. J. (2012). How dopamine enhances an optimism bias in humans. Current Biology, 22, 14771481. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.05.053Google Scholar
Shockley, K. M., & Shen, W. (2016). Couple dynamics: Division of labor. In Allen, T. D. & Eby, L. T. (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of work and family (pp. 125139). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Small, B. J., Dixon, R. A., McArdle, J. J., & Grimm, K. J. (2012). Do changes in lifestyle engagement moderate cognitive decline in normal aging? Evidence from the Victoria Longitudinal Study. Neuropsychology, 26, 144155. doi: 10.1037/a0026579Google Scholar
Soederberg Miller, L. M., & Gagne, D. D. (2005). Effects of age and control beliefs on resource allocation during reading abstract. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 12, 129148. doi: 10.1080/13825580590925161Google Scholar
Spiro, A., & Brady, C. B. (2011). Integrating health into cognitive aging: Toward a preventive cognitive neuroscience of aging. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66, 1725. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr018Google Scholar
Stawski, R. S., Mogle, J. A., & Sliwinski, M. J. (2013). Daily stressors and self-reported changes in memory in old age: The mediating effects of daily negative affect and cognitive interference. Aging and Mental Health, 17, 168172. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2012.738413Google Scholar
Stephan, Y., Sutin, A. R., & Terracciano, A. (2018). Subjective age and mortality in three longitudinal samples. Psychosomatic Medicine, 80, 659664. doi: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000613Google Scholar
Sutin, A. R., Stephan, Y., & Terracciano, A. (2018). Psychological well-being and risk of dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33, 743747. doi: 10.1002/gps.4849Google Scholar
Sutin, A. R., Terracciano, A., Milaneschi, Y., et al. (2013). Cohort effect on well-being: The legacy of economic hard times. Psychological Science, 24, 379385. doi: 10.1177/0956797612459658Google Scholar
Wahl, H.-W., & Gerstorf, D. (2018). sCOntext Dynamics in Aging (CODA). Developmental Review, 50, 155176. doi: 10.1016/j.dr.2018.09.003Google Scholar
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 10631070. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063Google Scholar
Wettstein, M., Wahl, H.-W., & Heyl, V. (2015). Cognition–well-being relations in old age: Moderated by sensory impairment. GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, 28, 123136. doi: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000131Google Scholar
Wilson, R. S., Boyle, P. A., Segawa, E., et al. (2013). The influence of cognitive decline on well-being in old age. Psychology and Aging, 28, 304313. doi: 10.1037/a0031196Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×