Life-long intellectual activities mediate the predictive effect of early education on cognitive impairment in centenarians: a retrospective study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis of whether early education and/or maintaining intellectual activities over the life-course have the power to protect against cognitive impairment even in extremely old adults. Ninety centenarians from the population-based Heidelberg Centenarian Study were assessed with a modified version of the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). Data about education, occupational status, and life-long intellectual activities in four selected domains were obtained. Results demonstrated that 52% of the sample showed mild-to-severe cognitive impairment. Analyzing the influence of early education, occupational status, and intellectual activities on cognitive status we applied several (logistic) regression analyses. Results revealed independent, significant and strong influence of both formal school education and intellectual activities on the cognitive status in very late life, even after controlling for occupational status. However, about one fourth of the effect of early education on cognitive status was exerted indirectly via the assessed intellectual activities. In summary, the present study provides first evidence for the conclusion that even with regard to cognitive performance in very old age, both early education and life-long intellectual activities seem to be of importance.

Effects of depressive symptoms and routinization on metamemory during adulthood

“…In the past, research concerning this concept has essentially studied the relations between metamemory and memory performances (Cavanaugh and Poon, 1989). Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that negative metamemory can reduce engagement in cognitive and social activities (Valentijn et al, 2006), whose effects are thought to have a positive impact on cognitive ageing (Hultsch et al, 1999;Kramer and Willis, 2002;Kliegel et al, 2004). Moreover, negative perceptions of one's own memory could reduce well-being (Mol et al, 2007).…”

Incidence and Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment in Rural, Elderly Populations of Costa Rica

“…Additionally, both a city-oriented vocation that requires enhanced daily thought processing and a home in a suburban or city atmosphere where more visual, auditory, and interpersonal stimulation exists had seemingly similar effects. Numerous studies have found strong trends suggesting education level as a predictor for the onset of cognitive impairment, and that participation in life-long intellectual activity can be an important factor in staving off such symptoms (Callahan et al, 1996;Kliegel, Zimprich, & Rott, 2004;Marcopulos, McLain, & Giuliano, 1997;White et al, 1994). Similarly, intellectual stimulation can be seen as a technique to attenuate the harsh effects of cognitive impairment when it acts as a characteristic symptom of neurologic disorders such as multiple sclerosis (Sumowski, Wylie, Chiaravalloti, & DeLuca, 2010).…”

Cognitive decline is associated with nutritional risk in subjects with small head circumference (HC)

“…Nutritional risk might possibly result in changes to one's cognitive reserve. Although the initial level of reserve may be determined by innate differences in resources at birth, or by differences in cognitive activity as the brain matures in childhood, processes in young adulthood, midlife, and late life may also act to increase or decrease one's reserve (Kliegel et al, 2004). Thus, the absolute level of reserve may change throughout life.…”