Does education level determine the course of cognitive decline?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
D Leibovici1, K Ritchie, B Ledésert
1INSERM Equipe Vieillissement Cognitif, CRLC Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France.
Abstract:
Many studies have implicated low education as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in elderly people. Findings are, however, inconsistent and the mechanism by which education level may intervene in senescent cognitive change is uncertain. The present study examines cognitive change over a 1-year period in 283 elderly persons manifesting recent subclinical deterioration in at least one area of cognitive functioning. The results suggest that the impact of both education level and young adult IQ on the degree of cognitive change over the year is greater in the older age groups. Secondary memory and language functions were found to be more resistant to decline in the high-education group, while attention, implicit memory and visuospatial skills are found to decline irrespective of education level.
Related Concept Videos
Language and Cognition
Biological Influences on Intelligence
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Information Processing Approach
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Dementia l: Introduction

