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Relationship between education and age-related cognitive decline: a review of recent research
Citation
Lenehan, ME and Summers, MJ and Saunders, NL and Summers, JJ and Vickers, JC, Relationship between education and age-related cognitive decline: a review of recent research, Psychogeriatrics : the official journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society, 15, (2) pp. 154-162. ISSN 1346-3500 (2015) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 The Authors Psychogeriatrics Copyright 2014 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society
Abstract
The association between level of educational attainment and cognitive performance
is well studied. People with higher education perform better across
a broad range of cognitive tasks. However, there is uncertainty as to whether
education moderates the trajectory of age-related cognitive decline. This
review paper addresses the potential link between education and agerelated
cognitive decline by evaluating relevant research published since
2000. Studies reporting data on education and its association with the rate
of cognitive decline across various cognitive domains were reviewed. A total
of 10 studies were identified with a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years; each
contained a population-based, non-demented sample. In the majority of
studies, results showed that education did not moderate age-associated
cognitive decline. The few studies that did find an association between
education and decline in specific cognitive functions should be interpreted
with caution because of methodological issues. The literature reveals little
consistent evidence that normal age-related cognitive decline is moderated
by education attainment. This supports a passive theory of cognitive reserve:
people with a higher level of education will continue to perform at a higher
level of cognitive functioning than their lower educated peers, which may
delay the onset of impairment in the future.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Education, Age-Related Cognitive Decline, Review |
| Research Division: | Psychology and Cognitive Sciences |
| Research Group: | Psychology |
| Research Field: | Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology) |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Other Health |
| Objective Field: | Health not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Lenehan, ME (Dr Megan Thow) |
| UTAS Author: | Summers, MJ (Dr Mathew Summers) |
| UTAS Author: | Saunders, NL (Dr Nichole Saunders) |
| UTAS Author: | Summers, JJ (Professor Jeffery Summers) |
| UTAS Author: | Vickers, JC (Professor James Vickers) |
| ID Code: | 104784 |
| Year Published: | 2015 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 39 |
| Deposited By: | Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2015-11-19 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-06 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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