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Cognitive Performance in a High-Functioning Community-Dwelling Elderly Population

1993; Oxford University Press; Volume: 48; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/geronj/48.4.m146

2331-3323

Sharon K. Inouye, Marilyn S. Albert, Richard C. Mohs, Kai Sun, Lisa Berkman,

Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of demographic factors as predictors of cognitive performance in a high-functioning, community-dwelling elderly population. The study cohort consisted of 1,192 community-dwelling subjects, who were selected to represent the highest third of an elderly population with respect to physical and cognitive functioning. A neuropsychological battery, including 5 cognitive performance subtests (confrontation naming, delayed recognition span, similarities, figure-copying, and incidental delayed recall) was administered to the subjects in their homes. A summary measure of the 5 neuropsychological subtest scores, the total cognitive score, arrayed the study f roup across a broad range of difficulty, creating a near-normal distribution. Education, income, and race had statistically significant associations with the total score and the individual subtests. The effect of education was the most striking finding, explaining 30% of the variance in the total score. Education was most strongly related to the abstraction (partial R2 = .11) subtest, and least related to the memory subtests, delayed recognition (R2 = .02) and delayed recall (R2 = .01). Demographic factors are important predictors of cognitive performance in this high-functioning cohort. Education had the strongest influence on overall cognitive performance, and particularly notable associations with subtests that depended upon the use of previously learned materials. Longitudinal follow-up, now underway, will help to determine whether high levels of education help to maintain cognitive performance with age.