Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1843/61968
Type: Artigo de Periódico
Title: Semantic memory and literacy are better moderators than education on cognitive aging
Authors: Laissbertola
Rafaela Teixeira Ávila
Maria Aparecida Camargos Bicalho
Leandro Fernandes Malloy-diniz
Abstract: Objective: Aging studies regularly assume that years of education are a protective factor for baseline cognition. In developing countries with specific sociocultural issues, this relationship may not work as expected, and an unmet need remains for alternative resilience factors. This study aimed to analyze different moderators for the relationship between aging and general cognition that could reflect better protective factors.Methods: One hundred and fourteen Brazilian older adults, deemed healthy by global cognition, absence of psychiatric symptoms, or neurological history, participated in this cross-sectional study.Moderators for the relationship between age and global cognition included education, intelligence, and occupational factors. Semantic memory was added as a protective factor reflecting culturally acquired conceptual knowledge.Results: As expected, age alone is a predictor of global cognitive scores; surprisingly, however, education, intelligence, and occupation were not moderators of the association. Semantic memory was a significant moderator (p = 0.007), indicating that knowledge acquired during life may be a protective factor.Conclusion: In developing countries, the use of resilience factors based only on years of education may be misleading. Sociocultural issues influence the educational system and achievement and, consequently, affect the use of this simple measure. Resilience-factor studies should consider using crystallized abilities when studying populations with sociocultural particularities
Subject: Semantics
Protective Factors
Cognitive Aging
Educational Status
Developing Countries
Aging
language: eng
metadata.dc.publisher.country: Brasil
Publisher: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Publisher Initials: UFMG
metadata.dc.publisher.department: FAF - DEPARTAMENTO DE PSICOLOGIA
MED - DEPARTAMENTO DE SAÚDE MENTAL
Rights: Acesso Aberto
metadata.dc.identifier.doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.06.2167
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1843/61968
Issue Date: 2017
metadata.dc.url.externa: https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0290
metadata.dc.relation.ispartof: Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
Appears in Collections:Artigo de Periódico

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