Estimation of cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive performance in older adults.

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive reserve provides evidence in the search for answers regarding the role that lifestyle has in the protection of cognition in old age. Through a structural equations model, different things were analyzed: the relative weight of education, occupational complexity, free time activities and the intelligence quotient in cognitive reserve; and its impact on three cognitive domains: memory, language and executive functions.

DESIGN

A trail analysis was executed, using structural equations procedure.

PARTICIPANTS

167 older participants (mean = 76.74 years, standard deviation = 6.8 years).

MEASUREMENTS

Participants were assessed with: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Occupational Activity Agency Questionnaire, Social Participation Questionnaire and Neuropsychological Evaluation Battery for: memory, language and executive functions.

RESULTS

The cognitive reserve factor is well represented by the measures included, with values ​​between .43 and .86, and shows a direct effect on language ( = .52,  < .001), executive functions ( = .77, <.001), and memory ( = .36,  = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, lifestyle factors, such as education, occupational complexity, leisure time activities and intelligence quotient have an impact on the conformation of cognitive reserve and performance in some psychological processes.