The dynamics of cognitive functions in aging and their connection with the level of education

Authors:

Titarenko A.V., Shishkin S.V., Shcherbakova L.V., Verevkin E.G., Holmes M., Bobak M., Malyutina S.K.

Place of publication:

Neurology, neuropsychiatry, psychosomatics. 2018

Changes in the cognitive sphere during aging in the Russian population have not been sufficiently studied.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamics of cognitive function (CF) indicators in two serial measurements over 9 years in the urban population of middle, elderly and old age and their relationship with the level of education.

Patients and methods. A random population-based sample of men and women aged 45–69 years, residents of Novosibirsk (n=9360; HAPIEE project), was examined. CF testing was performed using standard methods. A repeat examination was conducted in a random subsample (n=1663) included in this analysis. The mean follow-up period was 8.8 years (SD=1.1).

Results and discussion. The semantic fluency test revealed a dynamic decline in all age groups, more pronounced in women than in men (p<0.001). In individuals aged 70 and older, negative dynamics of memory, semantic speech activity and attention concentration indicators were found (p<0.001). Individuals with primary (8 or less grades of secondary school; 6%) and professional (26%) education levels showed a higher rate of decline in the delayed recall test indicators (p=0.011; 0.038) than in individuals with higher education (35%). Conclusion. It was established that the dynamic decline of CF begins at the age of 55–59 years, it is more pronounced in the group of individuals aged 70 and older. Age-related regression of memory function was accelerated in participants with a low level of education.

Key words: cognitive functions; age dynamics; cognitive decline; educational level.