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Early and late life cognitive activity and cognitive systems in old age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2005

ROBERT S. WILSON ,
LISA L. BARNES ,
KRISTIN R. KRUEGER ,
GEORGE HOGANSON ,
JULIA L. BIENIAS  and
DAVID A. BENNETT
ROBERT S. WILSON
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Psychology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
LISA L. BARNES
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Psychology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
KRISTIN R. KRUEGER
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Psychology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
GEORGE HOGANSON
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
JULIA L. BIENIAS
Affiliation:
Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
DAVID A. BENNETT
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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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. (JINS, 2005, 11, 400–407.)

Keywords

Human activityCognitionMemoryAgingEpidemiologic studiesCross-sectional studies
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , July 2005 , pp. 400 - 407
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

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