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Evaluating the Function of the Foot Core System in the Elderly
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[Suboptimal health and memory performance of elderly]
I W Schmidt1, I J Berg, B G Deelman
1Afdeling Neuropsychologie en Gerontologie, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. I.W.Schmidt@PPSW.RUG.NL
Tijdschrift Voor Gerontologie En Geriatrie
|March 22, 2000
Summary
Health incidents did not impact memory performance or complaints in older adults, regardless of age. This finding challenges the idea that health issues explain age-related cognitive changes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Context:
- Investigated health-related incidents in older adults with and without memory complaints.
- Cross-validated previous findings on health and cognitive performance.
Purpose:
- To assess the influence of health-related incidents on memory performance and subjective ratings in healthy older adults.
- To determine if health factors explain age-related cognitive differences.
Summary:
- Health-related incidents were assessed in 228 older adults (mean age 62.5 years).
- Incidents occurred in about half of participants and were unrelated to age.
- Neither the presence nor number of incidents correlated with memory performance or complaints.
Impact:
- Challenges the assumption that health issues are a primary driver of age-related memory decline.
- Suggests other factors may be more influential in cognitive changes associated with aging.
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