Intellectual engagement and cognitive ability in later life (the "use it or lose it" conjecture): longitudinal, prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine the association between intellectual engagement and cognitive ability in later life, and determine whether the maintenance of intellectual engagement will offset age related cognitive decline.

Design

Longitudinal, prospective, observational study.

Setting

Non-clinical volunteers in late middle age (all born in 1936) living independently in northeast Scotland.

Participants

Sample of 498 volunteers who had taken part in the Scottish Mental Health Survey of 1947, from one birth year (1936).

Main outcome measures

Cognitive ability and trajectory of cognitive decline in later life. Typical intellectual engagement was measured by a questionnaire, and repeated cognitive measurements of information processing speed and verbal memory were ob

SUBMITTER: Staff RT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6287118 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature