B. Hagberg et al., Cognitive functioning in centenarians: A coordinated analysis of results from three countries, J GERONT B, 56(3), 2001, pp. P141-P151
Citations number
63
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Cognitive functions among centenarians in Japan, Sweden, and the United Sta
tes are described. Three areas are explored. First, definitions and prevale
nce of dementia are compared between Japan and Sweden. Second, levels of co
gnitive performances between centenarians and younger age groups are presen
ted. Third, interindividual variations in cognitive performances in centena
rians and younger persons are compared in Sweden and the United States. The
Swedish and Japanese studies show a variation in prevalence of dementia be
tween 40% and 63% with a relatively higher prevalence among women. Part of
the variance is probably due to differences in sampling and criteria of dem
entia, Along with the lower cognitive performance in centenarians, compared
with younger age groups, the Swedish and U.S. results show a wider range o
f performance among centenarians For those semantic or experientially relat
ed abilities that tend to be maintained over the adult life span. In contra
st, a smaller range of performance is found for centenarians on those fluid
or process-related abilities that have shown a downward age-related trajec
tory of performance. Lower variability is probably due to centenarians reac
hing the lower performance limit. The conclusions agree with the assumption
of a general increase in cognitive differentiation with increasing age, pr
imarily in measures of crystallized intelligence. The conclusions point to
the general robustness of results across countries, as well as to the relat
ive importance of cognition for longevity.