Age, Education and Intellectual Quotient Influences: Structural Equation Modeling on the study of Benton Visual...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Visual memory and visuoconstructive abilities are crucial cognitive functions.
• Understanding sociodemographic influences on these abilities is important for clinical and developmental assessments.
• The Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) is a widely used tool for evaluating these skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of age on visual memory and visuoconstructive ability.
• To examine the relationship between age, education, and intellectual quotient (IQ) on BVRT performance.
• To analyze sociodemographic factors impacting cognitive performance in a Brazilian sample.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted involving 624 participants aged 6 to 89 years.
• Study 1 analyzed age-related changes in BVRT performance across different age groups.
• Study 2 employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the interplay of age, education, and IQ on BVRT scores.

Main Results:

• Study 1 revealed a U-inverted pattern in BVRT performance related to age, with improvements in children/adolescents and declines in adults/elderly.
• SEM analysis in Study 2 confirmed the model's fit and highlighted a significant predictive role of years of education on BVRT performance.
• Intellectual quotient (IQ) also showed a relationship with BVRT scores, as expected.

Conclusions:

• Age significantly influences visual memory and visuoconstructive abilities, following a developmental trajectory with a decline in later life.
• Years of education are a strong predictor of performance on the Benton Visual Retention Test.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering sociodemographic factors in the interpretation of cognitive assessments.