Cognitive Functioning Mediates the Association of Cognitive Reserve with Health-Related Quality of Life

Andreas Ihle, Élvio R. Gouveia, Bruna R. Gouveia, Adilson Marques, Priscila Marconcin, Marcelo de Maio Nascimento, Jefferson Jurema, Maria A. Tinôco and Matthias Kliegel
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Andreas Ihle: Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Élvio R. Gouveia: Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Bruna R. Gouveia: Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Adilson Marques: CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1495-751 Lisbon, Portugal
Priscila Marconcin: Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1495-751 Lisbon, Portugal
Marcelo de Maio Nascimento: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Jefferson Jurema: Higher School of Health Sciences, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69065-001, Brazil
Maria A. Tinôco: Coordination of Physical Education and Sport, Federal Institute of Science and Technology Education of Amazonas, Manaus 69020-120, Brazil
Matthias Kliegel: Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-8

Abstract: We investigated whether the relations of the cognitive reserve markers education and cognitive level of work to the physical and the mental component of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were mediated via cognitive functioning in a large sample of 701 older adults (mean age = 70.36 years, SD = 6.87). HRQoL was measured with the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey. To measure cognitive functioning, we used the COGTEL, which is a cognitive test battery assessing prospective memory, verbal short-term memory, verbal long-term memory, working memory, verbal fluency, and inductive reasoning, combined into a composite score. Individuals reported information on their education and their main profession during their working life. Mediation analyses showed that better cognitive functioning mediated the association of higher values in the cognitive reserve markers (longer education and a high cognitive level of work) with higher HRQoL. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the sustainability of cognitive functioning in old age with the help of cognitive reserve is fundamental for the sustainability of quality of life, presumably particularly for the mental HRQoL component.

Keywords: health-related quality of life; well-being; mental health; cognitive health; cognitive functioning; cognitive abilities; cognitive reserve; education; profession; old age (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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