Education and decline in cognitive performance: Compensatory but not protective

H. Christensen; A. E. Korten; A. F. Jorm; A. S. Henderson; P. A. Jacomb; B. Rodgers; A. J. Mackinnon

doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199703)12:3<323::AID-GPS492>3.0.CO;2-N

Education and decline in cognitive performance: Compensatory but not protective

H. Christensen^*, A. E. Korten, A. F. Jorm, A. S. Henderson, P. A. Jacomb, B. Rodgers, A. J. Mackinnon

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

136 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The association between education and cognitive change was investigated in a large community sample of elderly people followed up after 3.6 years. Lower education was predictive of decline on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and on tests of language and knowledge, but not on tests of cognitive speed, memory or reaction time. The effects of education were not attenuated when adjusted for health, disability or activity level. The findings suggest that education slows the rate of decline on crystallized intelligence, but not other cognitive abilities. Education may compensate for neurodegenerative changes rather than protect against them.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	323-330
Number of pages	8
Journal	International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume	12
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199703)12:3<323::AID-GPS492>3.0.CO;2-N
Publication status	Published - Mar 1997

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10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199703)12:3<323::AID-GPS492>3.0.CO;2-N

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title = "Education and decline in cognitive performance: Compensatory but not protective",

abstract = "The association between education and cognitive change was investigated in a large community sample of elderly people followed up after 3.6 years. Lower education was predictive of decline on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and on tests of language and knowledge, but not on tests of cognitive speed, memory or reaction time. The effects of education were not attenuated when adjusted for health, disability or activity level. The findings suggest that education slows the rate of decline on crystallized intelligence, but not other cognitive abilities. Education may compensate for neurodegenerative changes rather than protect against them.",

keywords = "Ageing, Cognitive functioning, Education, Longitudinal study, Psychometric testing",

author = "H. Christensen and Korten, \{A. E.\} and Jorm, \{A. F.\} and Henderson, \{A. S.\} and Jacomb, \{P. A.\} and B. Rodgers and Mackinnon, \{A. J.\}",

note = "{\textcopyright}1997 The authors",

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T2 - Compensatory but not protective

AU - Christensen, H.

AU - Korten, A. E.

AU - Jorm, A. F.

AU - Henderson, A. S.

AU - Jacomb, P. A.

AU - Rodgers, B.

AU - Mackinnon, A. J.

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KW - Ageing

KW - Cognitive functioning

KW - Education

KW - Longitudinal study

KW - Psychometric testing

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Education and decline in cognitive performance: Compensatory but not protective

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