Meta-analyses of age-cognition relations in adulthood: estimates of linear and nonlinear age effects and structural models.
A meta-analysis was conducted on 91 studies to derive a correlation matrix for adult age, speed of processing, primary-working memory, episodic memory, reasoning, and spatial ability. Structural equation modeling with a single latent common cognitive factor showed that all cognitive measures shared substantial portions of age-related variance. A mediational model revealed that speed of processing and primary-working memory appear to be important mediators of age-related differences in the other measures. However, not all of the age-related influences were mediated. An examination of quadratic age effects and correlational patterns for subsamples under and over 50 years of age revealed that (a) negative age-cognition relations were significant for the 18- to 50-year-old sample and (b) the age-related decline accelerated significantly over the adult life span for variables assessing speed, reasoning, and episodic memory.
Verhaeghen
P
P
Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium. pverhaeg@psych.syr.edu
Salthouse
T A
TA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003210:Concept Formation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time