Work

Education Does Not Affect Cognitive Decline in Aging: A Bayesian Assessment of the Association Between Education and Change in Cognitive Performance

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Education is positively associated with level of cognitive function but the association between education and rate of cognitive decline remains unresolved, partly for methodological reasons. In this article, we address this issue using linear mixed models and Bayesian hypothesis testing, using data from the Betula cohort-sequential longitudinal study. Our results support the null hypothesis that education does not alter the rate of cognitive decline for visuospatial ability, semantic knowledge, and episodic memory. We propose that education is only a relevant variable for understanding cognitive performance in older age because of the association between performance and education that is formed in early development.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01138

Authors: Rasmus Berggren, Jonna Nilsson, Martin Lövdén

Institutions: Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801