Aging-related changes of cognitive performance and stress regulation in high functioning elderly individuals

This article aims to analyse long-term changes in cognitive performance and psychophysiological stress regulation in a specific sample of 10 young-old (age at pre-test: M ± SD = 63.2 ± 1.5) and 12 old-old (age at pre-test: M ± SD = 69 ± 2) persons possessing a high psychosocial status and a physically active lifestyle. Psychophysiological parameters were recorded prior to, during, and after the administration of a cognitive performance test battery. The measurements took place three times within a 6-month period, and again 6 years later in a follow-up test. Considering practice and habituation effects, findings provide no compelling evidence of an aging-associated cognitive decline in attention, multiple choice reaction performance, and information processing speed, either in the young-olds, or in the old-olds. Furthermore, psychophysiological stress regulation showed no long-term alteration regarding skin conductance level and heart rate. Based on these findings, it is assumed that psychosocial health and physical activity might contribute to the preservation of cognitive abilities and stress regulation into the 70s. Finally, this study demonstrated the significance of considering practice and habituation effects elicited through test repetitions in order to estimate long-term effects.