Executive functions (EFs) regulate human behavior and allow individuals to
interact and act in the world. EFs are sensitive to sociodemographic variables
such as age, which promotes their decline, and to others that can exert a
neuroprotective effect.ObjectiveTo assess the predictive role of education, occupation and family income on
decline in executive functions among a sample with a wide age range.MethodsA total of 925 participants aged 18-89 years with 1-28 years' education were
submitted to assessment of executive functions using the Card Sorting Test
(CST), Phonemic Verbal Fluency (FAS) Task and Semantic Verbal Fluency (SVF)
Task. Data on income, occupation and educational level were collected for
the sample. The data were analyzed using Linear Regression, as well as
Pearson's and Spearman's Correlation.ResultsAge showed a significant negative correlation (p<0.001) with performance
on the CST, FAS and SVF, whereas education, income and occupation were
positively associated (p<0.001) with the tasks applied. After application
of the multivariate linear regression model, a significant positive
relationship with the FAS was maintained only for education (p<0.001) and
income (p<0.001). The negative relationship of age (p<0.001) and
positive relationship of both education (p<0.001) and income
(p<0.001and p=0.003) were evident on the CST and SVF.ConclusionEducational level and income positively influenced participants' results on
executive function tests, attenuating expected decline for age. However, no
relationship was found between occupation and the cognitive variables
investigated.