Social cognition is not associated with cognitive reserve in older adults

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dc.contributor.authorLavrencic, L.
dc.contributor.authorKurylowicz, L.
dc.contributor.authorValenzuela, M.
dc.contributor.authorChurches, O.
dc.contributor.authorKeage, H.
dc.date.issued2016
dc.descriptionPublished online: 19 May 2015
dc.description.abstractSocial and general cognitive abilities decline in late life. Those with high cognitive reserve display better general cognitive performance in old age; however, it is unknown whether this is also the case for social cognition. A total of 115 healthy older adults, aged 60-85 years (m = 44, f = 71) were assessed using The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT-R; social cognition), the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ; cognitive reserve), and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II; general cognitive ability). The LEQ did not predict performance on any TASIT-R subtest: Emotion Evaluation Test (β = -.097, p = .325), Social Inference - Minimal (β = -.004, p = .972), or Social Inference - Enriched (β = -.016, p = .878). Sensitivity analyses using two alternative cognitive reserve measures, years of education and the National Adult Reading Test, supported these effects. Cognitive reserve was strongly related to WASI-II performance. Unlike general cognitive ability, social cognition appears unaffected by cognitive reserve. Findings contribute to the emerging understanding that cognitive reserve differentially affects individual cognitive domains, which has implications for the theoretical understanding of cognitive reserve and its brain correlates. Cognitive measures unbiased by cognitive reserve may serve as best indicators of brain health, free of compensatory mechanisms.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityLouise M. Lavrencic, Lisa Kurylowicz, Michael J. Valenzuela, Owen F. Churches and Hannah A.D. Keage
dc.identifier.citationAging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 2016; 23(1):61-77
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/13825585.2015.1048773
dc.identifier.issn1382-5585
dc.identifier.issn1744-4128
dc.identifier.orcidKeage, H. [0000-0002-6814-4997]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/107362
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/568890
dc.rights© 2015 Taylor & Francis
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2015.1048773
dc.subjectCognitive reserve; emotion evaluation; theory of mind; older adults; sex differences
dc.titleSocial cognition is not associated with cognitive reserve in older adults
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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