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Updated: Oct 3, 2025
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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
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The relationship between cognitive engagement and better memory in midlife
Lisa Bransby1, Rachel F Buckley2,3,4, Emily Rosenich1
1Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health School of Psychological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Engaging in a variety of cognitively stimulating activities, including education and leisure, is linked to better memory performance in midlife adults. Greater cognitive engagement may build cognitive reserve, potentially slowing cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive decline and dementia are significant public health concerns.
- Cognitively stimulating activities are hypothesized to mitigate these declines.
- This study investigates multiple facets of cognitive engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations of educational attainment, occupational complexity, social engagement, and cognitively stimulating leisure activities with objective and subjective cognition.
- To determine the combined effects of these cognitive engagement indices.
Main Methods:
- 1864 middle-aged adults from the Healthy Brain Project participated.
- Objective cognition was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery.
- Subjective cognition and cognitive engagement were measured via self-report questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Higher educational attainment and leisure activity engagement were individually linked to better memory.
- Participants reporting two or more cognitive engagement indices showed moderately better memory compared to those with none.
Conclusions:
- A diverse range of cognitive engagement is associated with enhanced memory in midlife.
- This may be attributed to the development of cognitive reserve.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore mechanisms.
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