Daniel Zimprich

Can longitudinal changes in processing speed explain longitudinal age changes in fluid intelligence

The processing-speed theory of cognitive aging contends tha age-related declines in intellectual function reflect the consequences of age-related slowing of processing speed. Cross-sectional data support this assumption. The association between 4-year changes in processing speed and 4-year changes in fluid intelligence was examined with a sample of 417 older adults. Changes in processing speed correlated .53 with changes in fluid intelligence. The difference in the explanatory power of processing speed regarding age-related differences and age-related changes is discussed with reference to other longitudinal studies and methodological considerations.

Age differences in five personality domains across the life span

The present study addresses the issue of age differences in 5 personality domains across the life span in a cross-sectional study. In contrast to most previous studies, the present study follows a methodologically more rigorous approach to warrant that age-related differences in personality structure and mean level can be meaningfully compared. It uses data on 50 items of the Five-Factor Personality Inventory (FFPI) available from a study in a large and representative Dutch sample (N = 2,494; age range: 16 to 91 years) conducted in 1996 for the purpose of establishing norms for the FFPI. After having established strict measurement invariance, tests were made for factor covariances to be equal across age groups, revealing structural continuity of personality. Additionally, factor variances were shown to be equal across age groups. A number of age differences in the mean level of the five personality domains emerged. Specifically, older adults were, on average, more agreeable and, especially, more conscientious than middle-aged and younger adults. Findings from our study suggest that both continuity and change may mark personality over the course of life.

Effects of sad mood on time-based prospective memory

Very little is known about the influence of emotional factors on prospective memory (PM) performance. We used a mood induction (neutral or sad) to examine the effects of sad mood on time-based PM performance. Based on Ellis and Ashbrooks (1988) resource allocation model, we hypothesised an adverse effect of sad mood on PM performance. Results revealed that participants who responded to the sad mood induction procedure showed reduced PM performance that mainly resulted from a decreased timeliness of PM responses, but only in the first half of the task. Mood effects on PM could be explained in terms of reduced and less accurate monitoring. Implications for concepts of PM and the assessment of emotional after-effects are discussed.

What do subjective cognitive complaints in persons with aging-associated cognitive decline reflect?

BACKGROUND Subjective cognitive complaints have been included in diagnostic concepts such as Aging-Associated Cognitive Decline (AACD) aiming to identify older adults with cognitive impairments at high risk of developing dementia. Although several studies in normal aging have found that subjective cognitive complaints are related to depressive affect and personality factors, little is known as to whether this is also true for older adults with AACD. METHODS In 123 older adults diagnosed with AACD and 291 controls, the role of actual cognitive performance, depressive affect, neuroticism and conscientiousness in predicting subjective cognitive complaints was investigated. In separate ordinary least squares regression analyses for both groups with gender, age, years of schooling, cognitive performance, depressive affect, neuroticism and conscientiousness as predicting variables, in the control participants, gender, age, depressive affect and neuroticism were related to subjective cognitive complaints, whereas in the AACD participants only gender and neuroticism accounted for variance in subjective cognitive complaints. Testing for group differences in predictive power, revealed differential effects for gender, depressive affect and neuroticism. CONCLUSIONS As subjective cognitive complaints in the AACD group were related to neuroticism and gender rather than to cognitive performance, their inclusion in diagnostic concepts such as AACD should be revaluated. However, the nature of subjective cognitive complaints might be qualitatively different in persons diagnosed with AACD compared to those stated by normal older adults.

Gender Differences in Level and Change in Cognitive Functioning Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

Background: Gender differences in level of cognitive functioning are frequently observed, but little is known about gender differences in rate of decline of cognitive functioning. Objective: The present study aims to describe variability between and within men and women specified for four different cognitive abilities at baseline, and variability in change in these abilities among men and women over 6 years. Methods: We started with a study sample of 1,132 men and 1,175 women, with a measurement interval of 3 years. At wave 3 of the study, 1,552 of the respondents from wave 1 were still present. Differences in level and rate of change were estimated with latent change models. Results: Women have higher levels of memory functioning then men, but no gender differences were observed for speed or non-verbal reasoning changes. Conclusion: In spite of evidence for a stronger age-related atrophy of the brain structure of men, no gender differences in decline of cognitive functions could be observed.

Long-term correlated change in personality traits in old age.

The present study examines long-term correlated change in personality traits in old age across a time period of 12 years. Data from the Interdisciplinary Study on Adult Development were used to investigate different aspects of personality change and stability. The sample consisted of 300 adults ranging from 60 to 64 years of age at Time 1. Personality was measured with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Longitudinal structural stability, differential stability, change in interindividual differences, mean-level change, and correlated change of the 5 personality traits were examined utilizing structural equation modeling. After having established strict measurement invariance, factor variances in Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness were found to be different across testing occasions, implying variant covariation patterns over time. Stability coefficients were around .70, indicating high but not perfect differential stability. The amount of interindividual differences increased with respect to Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness. Both mean-level change and stability in personality were observed. Eventually, except for Neuroticism, a number of medium effect-sized correlations among changes in personality traits emerged, implying that personality changes share a substantial amount of commonality.

Life-long intellectual activities mediate the predictive effect of early education on cognitive impairment in centenarians: a retrospective study

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis of whether early education and/or maintaining intellectual activities over the life-course have the power to protect against cognitive impairment even in extremely old adults. Ninety centenarians from the population-based Heidelberg Centenarian Study were assessed with a modified version of the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). Data about education, occupational status, and life-long intellectual activities in four selected domains were obtained. Results demonstrated that 52% of the sample showed mild-to-severe cognitive impairment. Analyzing the influence of early education, occupational status, and intellectual activities on cognitive status we applied several (logistic) regression analyses. Results revealed independent, significant and strong influence of both formal school education and intellectual activities on the cognitive status in very late life, even after controlling for occupational status. However, about one fourth of the effect of early education on cognitive status was exerted indirectly via the assessed intellectual activities. In summary, the present study provides first evidence for the conclusion that even with regard to cognitive performance in very old age, both early education and life-long intellectual activities seem to be of importance.

Factor structure and measurement invariance of the cognitive failures questionnaire across the adult life span

The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) is designed to assess a persons proneness to committing cognitive slips and errors in the completion of everyday tasks. Although the CFQ is a widely used instrument, its factor structure remains an issue of scientific debate. The present study used data of a representative sample (N = 1,303, 24-83 years of age) from the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS) to test and compare factor solutions for the CFQ previously reported in the literature by means of confirmatory factor analysis of ordered categorical variables. A three-factor model of the CFQ from an exploratory factor analysis was tested for increasing levels of measurement invariance across six age groups. Factor (co-)variances remained stable across the age groups, mean differences were observed for the factor Forgetfulness with higher means for older participants, and the factor Distractibility where participants older than 60 years of age had lower means.

Prospective Memory Complaints Can Be Predicted by Prospective Memory Performance in Older Adults

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to explore if prospective memory complaints reflect actual prospective memory performance in older adults. Methods: Three hundred and sixty-four older adults aged 65–80 years were investigated with regard to prospective memory complaints, prospective memory test performance, self-reported depressive symptoms, and self-reported memory capacity. Results: Separate analyses revealed that about half of the participants showed a significant relation between subjective and objective prospective memory. Conclusion: Older adults appear to be heterogeneous with regard to the association between objective and subjective prospective memory. For older adults with relatively few depressive symptoms and memory concerns, prospective memory complaints may serve as a valid criterion in the assessment of prospective memory ability.

A Two-Level Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a Modified Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

Classical factor analysis assumes independent and identically distributed observations. Educational data, however, are often hierarchically structured, with, for example, students being nested within classes. In this study, data on self-esteem gathered in a sample of 1,107 students within 72 school classes in Switzerland were analyzed using two-level confirmatory factor analysis. Considering a sequence of two-level confirmatory factor models, the results indicate that a one-factor model of self-esteem with an additional orthogonal method or response-style factor of negatively worded items adequately described within-class (individual) differences in self-esteem. By contrast, at the between-class level, a general factor of self-esteem was sufficient to capture school class differences in self-esteem. Thus, apart from other influences, for students, the social context (school class) seems to matter in forming their self-esteem. At the same time, the findings imply that studies examining self-esteem using samples of clustered observations should account for multiple levels of analysis (i.e., separate within- and between-class variances).