Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships among age, cognition, and processing speed.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal age effects on cognitive function were examined in 302 older adults followed longitudinally. Processing speed was related to cognitive performance at cross-section, and change in speed predicted within-person longitudinal cognitive decline. Statistical control of processing speed greatly reduced cross-sectional age effects but did not attenuate longitudinal aging effects. This difference in processing speed's ability to account for cross-sectional and longitudinal age effects is discussed in the context of theories of cognitive aging and methodological and statistical issues pertaining to the cross-sectional and longitudinal study of cognitive aging.
Sliwinski
M
M
Rose F. Kennedy Center for Mental Retardation and Human Development, Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. sliwinsk@aecom.yu.edu
Buschke
H
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors