title: Longitudinal associations of need for cognition, cognitive activity, and depressive symptomatology with cognitive function in recent retirees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated how interindividual differences in cognitive function are related to interindividual differences in the motivational trait of need for cognition, cognitive activity levels, and depressive symptomatology in a sample of young-old adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ample comprised 333 recent retirees from the Concordia Longitudinal Retirement Project (mean age = 59.06 years at entry into study), assessed at 4 annual time points. Cognitive function was measured at 2 time points with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We used structural equation modeling to examine a longitudinal mediation model controlling for age, education, years since retirement, and prior occupation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Need for cognition was positively associated with change in cognitive status 2 years later. Variety of cognitive activities was positively associated with level of cognitive status 1 year later. Depressive symptomatology was negatively associated with level of cognitive status 1 year later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that motivational disposition plays a significant role in enhancing cognitive status in retirees, as do variety of cognitive activities. Additionally, subclinical depressive symptomatology can negatively influence cognitive status in young-old retirees. These results have implications for the design of interventions aimed at maintaining the cognitive health of retirees.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Human Development and Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West Montréal, Québec, Canada H4B 1R6. LHBaer@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: Nassim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tabri
authors.forename: Mervin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.forename: Karen Z H
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pushkar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires