Education and decline in cognitive performance: compensatory but not protective.
The association between education and cognitive change was investigated in a large community sample of elderly people followed up after 3.6 years. Lower education was predictive of decline on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and on tests of language and knowledge, but not on tests of cognitive speed, memory or reaction time. The effects of education were not attenuated when adjusted for health, disability or activity level. The findings suggest that education slows the rate of decline on crystallized intelligence, but not other cognitive abilities. Education may compensate for neurodegenerative changes rather than protect against them.
Christensen
H
H
NH&MRC Social Psychiatry Research Unit, ANU, Canberra, Australia. helen.christensen@anu.edu.au
Korten
A E
AE
Jorm
A F
AF
Henderson
A S
AS
Jacomb
P A
PA
Rodgers
B
B
Mackinnon
A J
AJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors