SUCCESSFUL AGING AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

The cognitive functioning, as a general measure, is a criterion commonly used to define and operationalize successful aging. (Project-Conacyt-256589) The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of successful aging and its relationship with specific domains of cognitive function in older adults. A total of 201 older adults 60-years and older (mean age=71.88, SD=7.07 years, 84% women). Successful aging was operationalized in accordance with no important disease, no disability, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, and being actively engaged. Cognitive functioning was assessed by a battery including learning potential (RAVLT), episodic memory (Subtest-RBNAS), working memory (Digit Span BackwardWAIS-IV), metamemory (self-report), processing speed (Symbol DigitWAIS-IV), attention (TMT-A), executive functioning (TMT-B), semantic fluency (vegetables,animals,fruit), phonetic fluency (FAS), visuospatial skills (Block Design WAIS-IV). Sociodemographic and health data were also asked. Pearsons correlation test and linear regression models were performed. 5.5% met the five criteria for being considered successful agers, 21.4 four criteria, 37.3% three criteria, 24.9% two, and 10.4% only one criteria. No important disease 13.4%, no disability 80.6%, physical functioning 27.9%, cognitive functioning 92%, and being actively engaged 30.8%. Differences by gender and age were not observed. Better performance on all cognitive domains were positively related to successful aging (p<.05), except for metamemory. Knowledge generated by this study reveals the role of specific domains of cognitive functioning in successful aging, and sets a scenario to promote successful aging, through alternatives centered in the improvement of cognition in the older adults.