Activity engagement is related to level, but not change in cognitive ability across adulthood

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dc.contributor.authorBielak, Allison
dc.contributor.authorChristensen, Helen
dc.contributor.authorWindsor, Timothy
dc.contributor.authorAnstey, Kaarin
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-10T23:15:28Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.date.updated2016-02-24T09:46:26Z
dc.description.abstractIt is unclear whether the longitudinal relation between activity participation and cognitive ability is due to preserved differentiation (active individuals have higher initial levels of cognitive ability), or differential preservation (active individuals show less negative change across time). This distinction has never been evaluated after dividing time-varying activity into its two sources of variation: betweenperson and within-person variability. Further, few studies have investigated how the association between activity participation and cognitive ability may differ from early to older adulthood. Using the PATH Through Life Project, we evaluated whether between- and within-person variation in activity participation was associated with cognitive ability and change within cohorts aged 20-24 years, 40-44 years, and 60-64 years at baseline (n = 7,152) assessed on three occasions over an 8-year interval. Multilevel models indicated that between-person differences in activity significantly predicted baseline cognitive ability for all age cohorts and for each assessed cognitive domain (perceptual speed, short-term memory, working memory, episodic memory, and vocabulary), even after accounting for sex, education, occupational status, and physical and mental health. In each case, greater average participation was associated with higher baseline cognitive ability. However, the size of the relationship involving average activity participation and baseline cognitive ability did not differ across adulthood. Between-person activity and within-person variation in activity level were both not significantly associated with change in cognitive test performance. Results suggest that activity participation is indeed related to cognitive ability across adulthood, but only in relation to the starting value of cognitive ability, and not change over time.
dc.identifier.issn0882-7974
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/64673
dc.publisherAmerican Psychological Association
dc.sourcePsychology and Aging
dc.subjectKeywords: adult; adulthood; article; cognition; educational status; employment status; episodic memory; human; linguistics; mental health; physical activity; sex difference; short term memory; working memory; age; aged; aging; cognitive defect; daily life activity; Activity engagement; Adulthood; Cognitive change; Life span; Longitudinal
dc.titleActivity engagement is related to level, but not change in cognitive ability across adulthood
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue1
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage228
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage219
local.contributor.affiliationBielak, Allison, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationAnstey, Kaarin, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationChristensen, Helen, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationWindsor, Timothy, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.authoremailu4038535@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidBielak, Allison, u4606087
local.contributor.authoruidAnstey, Kaarin, u4038535
local.contributor.authoruidChristensen, Helen, u8804902
local.contributor.authoruidWindsor, Timothy, u4050516
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor170100 - PSYCHOLOGY
local.identifier.absseo970117 - Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
local.identifier.ariespublicationf5625xPUB979
local.identifier.citationvolume27
local.identifier.doi10.1037/a0024667
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-84861526438
local.identifier.thomsonID000301300400023
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByf5625
local.type.statusPublished Version

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