Meaning in life: resilience beyond reserve
David Bartrés-Faz1,2,3, Gabriele Cattaneo4,5, Javier Solana5,6,7
1Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut i Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. dbartres@ub.edu.
Alzheimer'S Research & Therapy
|May 26, 2018
Summary
Psychological factors like purpose in life and sense of coherence mediate cognitive reserve
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Psychology
- Cognitive Aging Research
Background:
- The role of psychological factors in brain health and cognitive reserve is understudied.
- The interaction between psychological factors and cognitive reserve (CR) in predicting mental and cognitive health is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of meaning in life (MiL) dimensions to brain health.
- To examine the mediating role of MiL dimensions in the relationship between CR and perceived cognitive function and mental health.
Main Methods:
- Data from 1081 adults were collected using questionnaires on meaning in life (purpose in life, sense of coherence, engagement with life) and cognitive reserve variables.
- Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were used to assess associations with self-reported cognitive function and affective status.
Main Results:
- All three meaning in life components correlated with affective status.
- Higher cognitive reserve, purpose in life, and sense of coherence scores correlated with better perceived cognitive function.
- Purpose in life and sense of coherence mediated the association between cognitive reserve and perceived cognitive function.
Conclusions:
- Psychological dimensions of meaning in life mediate the link between cognitive reserve and self-perceived cognitive function.
- Future research on cognitive reserve should incorporate psychological factors to fully understand their impact on brain function and maintenance in aging.
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