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Updated: Apr 13, 2026
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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
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Cognitive reserve and cognitive function in healthy older people: a meta-analysis
Carol Opdebeeck1, Anthony Martyr2, Linda Clare2
1a Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, School of Psychology , Bangor University , Bangor , UK.
Summary
Cognitive reserve (CR) proxies like education and occupation modestly boost cognition. While these measures share commonalities, each uniquely contributes to cognitive reserve across various cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- The relationship between cognitive reserve (CR) proxies and cognitive performance is inconsistent across studies and cognitive domains.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for identifying factors that support cognitive health throughout the lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the relationship between key CR proxy measures and cognitive function across multiple domains.
- To examine the individual and combined effects of educational level, occupational status, and cognitively stimulating activities on cognition.
Main Methods:
- Systematic meta-analysis of 135 studies, including 128,328 participants.
- Analysis focused on three primary CR proxy measures: education, occupation, and engagement in cognitively stimulating activities.
- Examined associations across memory, executive function, visuospatial ability, and language domains.
Main Results:
- All three proxy measures demonstrated a modest positive association with cognitive function.
- Occupational status and engagement in cognitively stimulating activities exhibited the most variability across different cognitive domains.
- A combination of these measures was also considered.
Conclusions:
- Commonly used proxy measures of CR appear to tap into an underlying shared process.
- Each proxy measure also offers a unique contribution to overall cognitive reserve.
- Findings support a multifaceted view of cognitive reserve.
Keywords:
cognitively stimulating leisure activitieseducationexecutive functionlanguagememoryoccupational statusvisuospatial abilityMore Related Videos
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