TY - JOUR T1 - What do parents have to do with my cognitive reserve? Life course perspectives on twelve-year cognitive decline. JF - Neuroepidemiology Y1 - 2013 A1 - Hector M González A1 - Wassim Tarraf A1 - Mary E Bowen A1 - Michelle D Johnson-Jennings A1 - Gwenith G Fisher KW - Aged KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Cognition Disorders KW - Cognitive Reserve KW - Cohort Studies KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Longevity KW - Longitudinal Studies KW - Male KW - Parents KW - Prospective Studies KW - Socioeconomic factors KW - United States AB -

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To examine the cognitive reserve hypothesis by comparing the contribution of early childhood and life course factors related to cognitive functioning in a nationally representative sample of older Americans.

METHODS: We examined a prospective, national probability cohort study (Health and Retirement Study; 1998-2010) of older adults (n=8,833) in the contiguous 48 United States. The main cognitive functioning outcome was a 35-point composite of memory (recall), mental status, and working memory tests. The main predictors were childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and health, and individual-level adult achievement and health.

RESULTS: Individual-level achievement indicators (i.e., education, income, and wealth) were positively and significantly associated with baseline cognitive function, while adult health was negatively associated with cognitive function. Controlling for individual-level adult achievement and other model covariates, childhood health presented a relatively small negative, but statistically significant association with initial cognitive function. Neither individual achievement nor childhood SEP was statistically linked to decline over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive reserve purportedly acquired through learning and mental stimulation across the life course was associated with higher initial global cognitive functioning over the 12-year period in this nationally representative study of older Americans. We found little supporting evidence that childhood economic conditions were negatively associated with cognitive function and change, particularly when individual-level achievement is considered.

PB - 41 VL - 41 IS - 2 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23860477?dopt=Abstract U2 - PMC3811933 U4 - Cognitive reserve/Older adults/Life course/Development/CHILDHOOD/Socioeconomic Status ER -