A life course model of cognitive activities, socioeconomic status, education, reading ability, and cognition.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To cross-sectionally quantify the contribution of proxy measures of cognitive reserve reflective of the lifespan, such as education, socioeconomic status (SES), reading ability, and cognitive activities, in explaining late-life cognition.

Design

Prospective observational cohort study of aging.

Setting

Retirement communities across the Chicago metropolitan area.

Participants

Nine hundred fifty-one older adults free of clinical dementia in the Rush Memory and Aging Project (aged 79 ± 8, 74% female).

Measurements

Baseline data on multiple life course factors included early-, mid-, and late-life participation in cognitive activities; early-life and adult SES; education; and reading ability (National Adult Reading Test; NART). Path analysis quantif

SUBMITTER: Jefferson AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3222272 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature