CIGEV, area gerontology: Research on Lifespan, Multidirectionality and Plasticity – Director: Matthias Kliegel

Life Course Pathways of Cognitive Reserve

Goals

In this project we investigate vulnerable ageing in cognitive functioning as a result of insufficient cognitive reserve accumulated over the life course. Thereby, in four sub-projects, we target the following research questions:

1. Life course accumulation of cognitive reserve and development of vulnerability

  • Through which detailed processes is cognitive reserve built up and maintained over the life course from childhood to old age?
  • How is this influenced by the build-up of other reserve domains (e.g., relational reserve)?
  • How do individual and context factors shape the accumulation of cognitive reserve over the life course?
  • How do these individual life course trajectories in the accumulation of cognitive reserve explain inter-individual differences in vulnerable cognitive ageing?

2. Compensation of vulnerable cognitive ageing

  • How is cognitive reserve activated in later life?
  • Through which detailed mechanisms does cognitive reserve help to compensate vulnerable cognitive ageing?
  • Are these cognitive reserve effects only associated with an individual’s cognitive status at a given point in time or also with the rate of cognitive decline?
  • Does this have aftereffects on related aspects of human functioning such as well-being?

3. Cognitive ageing in particularly vulnerable populations

  • Are cognitive reserve effects universal for everybody or specific for certain individuals?
  • Which role does cognitive reserve play for particularly vulnerable populations such as very old adults, women, frail individuals, socially disadvantaged individuals, or migrants?

4. Individual pathways of cognitive reserve accumulation — a fine-grained lifespan perspective
SNSFThis sub-project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator: Andreas Ihle, grant number: 10001C_189407). Thanks to this financial support, we are able to investigate the specific mechanisms tackled in the three aforementioned research lines in more detail.

  • How do inter-individual differences in the pathways of cognitive reserve accumulation over the life course from early childhood to very old age explain inter-individual differences in the subsequent ageing trajectories in cognitive functioning and well-being in old age?
  • How do idiosyncratic non-normative life event periods in the individual’s life history influence in detail the pathways of cognitive reserve accumulation and how does this finally affect the subsequent ageing trajectories in cognitive functioning and well-being in old age?
  • How do contextual factors, such as demographic, economic, and societal characteristics of the surrounding environments in which an individual grew up and spent his or her adulthood, influence in detail the pathways of cognitive reserve accumulation and how does this finally affect the subsequent ageing trajectories in cognitive functioning and well-being in old age?

Selected publications in peer-reviewed journals for the four sub-projects

(1)

  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Baeriswyl, M., Zuber, S., Cullati, S., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2021). The longitudinal relation between social reserve and smaller subsequent decline in executive functioning in old age is mediated via cognitive reserve. International Psychogeriatrics, 33(5), 461-467. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610219001789
  • Sauter, J., Widmer, E., Baeriswyl, M., Ballhausen, N., Vallet, F., Fagot, D., Kliegel, M., & Ihle, A. (2021). Interactional effects between relational and cognitive reserves on decline in executive functioning. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 76(8), 1523-1532. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa054
  • Ihle, A., Zuber, S., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Mella, N., Desrichard, O., Cullati, S., Oris, M., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2019). Cognitive Reserve Mediates the Relation between Openness to Experience and Smaller Decline in Executive Functioning. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 48(1-2), 39-44. https://doi.org/10.1159/000501822
  • Sauter, J., Widmer, E., Ihle, A., & Kliegel, M., (2019). The association of leisure activities in middle adulthood with cognitive performance in old age: Social capital mediates cognitive reserve effects. Psychology & Neuroscience, 12(2), 236-246. https://doi.org/10.1037/pne0000146
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Baeriswyl, M., & Kliegel, M. (2018). The relation of close friends to cognitive performance in old age: the mediating role of leisure activities. International Psychogeriatrics, 30(12), 1753-1758. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610218000789
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Fagot, D., Chicherio, C., van der Linden, B. W. A., Sauter, J., & Kliegel, M. (2018). Associations of educational attainment and cognitive level of job with old age verbal ability and processing speed: The mediating role of chronic diseases. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 25(4), 356-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2017.1306525
  • Ihle, A., Grotz, C., Adam, S., Oris, M., Fagot, D., Gabriel, R., & Kliegel, M. (2016). The association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance in old age: the role of leisure activities after retirement. International Psychogeriatrics, 28(10), 1659-1669. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610216000958
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Fagot, D., & Kliegel, M. (2016). The relation of the number of languages spoken to performance in different cognitive abilities in old age. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 38(10), 1103-1114. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2016.1197184
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Fagot, D., Maggiori, C., & Kliegel, M. (2016). The association of educational attainment, cognitive level of job, and leisure activities during the course of adulthood with cognitive performance in old age: the role of openness to experience. International Psychogeriatrics, 28(5), 733-740. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610215001933

(2)

  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Zuber, S., Mella, N., Desrichard, O., Cullati, S., Oris, M., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2021). The relationship of obesity predicting decline in executive functioning is attenuated with greater leisure activities in old age. Aging & Mental Health, 25(4), 613-620. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1697202
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., & Kliegel, M. (2020). Cognitive Reserve Moderates the Predictive Role of Memory Complaints for Subsequent Decline in Executive Functioning. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra, 10(2), 69-73. https://doi.org/10.1159/000508363
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Sauter, J., Spini, D., Rimmele, U., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2020). The Relation of Low Cognitive Abilities to Low Well-Being in Old Age is Attenuated in Individuals with Greater Cognitive Reserve and Greater Social Capital Accumulated over the Life Course. Aging & Mental Health, 24(3), 387-394. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1531370
  • Ihle, A., Rimmele, U., Oris, M., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2020). The Longitudinal Relationship of Perceived Stress Predicting Subsequent Decline in Executive Functioning in Old Age is Attenuated in Individuals with Greater Cognitive Reserve. Gerontology, 66(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1159/000501293
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Cullati, S., & Kliegel, M. (2019). Cognitive Reserve Attenuates 6-Year Decline in Executive Functioning after Stroke. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 48(5-6), 349-353. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506877
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Zuber, S., & Kliegel, M. (2019). Cognitive Reserve Attenuates the Relation between Gastrointestinal Diseases and Subsequent Decline in Executive Functioning. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 48(3-4), 215-218. https://doi.org/10.1159/000505617
  • Ihle, A., Ghisletta, P., Ballhausen, N., Fagot, D., Vallet, F., Baeriswyl, M., Sauter, J., Oris, M., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2018). The role of cognitive reserve accumulated in midlife for the relation between chronic diseases and cognitive decline in old age: A longitudinal follow-up across six years. Neuropsychologia, 121, 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.10.013
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Freitas, D. L., Jurema, J., Machado, F. T., & Kliegel, M. (2018). The Relation of Hypertension to Performance in Immediate and Delayed Cued Recall and Working Memory in Old Age: The Role of Cognitive Reserve. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(8), 1171-1187. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264317708883
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Freitas, D. L., Jurema, J., Tinôco, M. A., & Kliegel, M. (2017). High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level Relates to Working Memory, Immediate and Delayed Cued Recall in Brazilian Older Adults: The Role of Cognitive Reserve. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 44(1-2), 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1159/000477846
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Sauter, J., Rimmele, U., & Kliegel, M. (2018). Cognitive Reserve and Social Capital Accrued in Early and Midlife Moderate the Relation of Psychological Stress to Cognitive Performance in Old Age. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 45(3-4), 190-197. https://doi.org/10.1159/000488052
  • Ihle, A., Mons, U., Perna, L., Oris, M., Fagot, D., Gabriel, R., & Kliegel, M. (2016). The Relation of Obesity to Performance in Verbal Abilities, Processing Speed, and Cognitive Flexibility in Old Age: The Role of Cognitive Reserve. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 42(1-2), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1159/000448916

(3)

  • Ihle, A., Bavelier, D., Maurer, J., Oris, M., & Kliegel, M. (2020). Internet use in old age predicts smaller cognitive decline only in men. Scientific Reports, 10: 8969. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65846-9
  • Aartsen, M. J., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Van der Linden, B. W., Gabriel, R., Courvoisier, D. S., Guessous, I., Burton-Jeangros, C., Blane, D., Ihle, A., Kliegel, M., & Cullati, S. (2019). Advantaged socioeconomic conditions in childhood are associated with higher cognitive functioning but stronger cognitive decline in older age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(12), 5478-5486. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1807679116
  • Ihle, A., Fagot, D., Vallet, F., Ballhausen, N., Mella, N., Baeriswyl, M., Sauter, J., Oris, M., Maurer, J., & Kliegel, M. (2019). Cross-Lagged Relation of Leisure Activity Participation to Trail Making Test Performance 6 Years Later: Differential Patterns in Old Age and Very Old Age. Neuropsychology, 33(2), 234-244. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000497
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Freitas, D. L., Jurema, J., Ornelas, R. T., Antunes, A. M., Muniz, B. R., & Kliegel, M. (2018). The relation of education and cognitive activity to mini-mental state in old age: the role of functional fitness status. European Journal of Ageing, 15(2), 123-131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-017-0441-4
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Freitas, D. L., Jurema, J., Odim, A. P., & Kliegel, M. (2017). The relation of education, occupation, and cognitive activity to cognitive status in old age: the role of physical frailty. International Psychogeriatrics, 29(9), 1469-1474. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217000795
  • Ihle, A., Oris, M., Fagot, D., Baeriswyl, M., Guichard, E., & Kliegel, M. (2015). The Association of Leisure Activities in Middle Adulthood with Cognitive Performance in Old Age: The Moderating Role of Educational Level. Gerontology, 61(6), 543-550. https://doi.org/10.1159/000381311

(4)

  • Ihle, A. & Kliegel, M. (2021). What do individual reserves tell us about vulnerable ageing? Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2(4), e181-e182. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00055-6
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Haas, M., Zuber, S., Orsholits, D., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Cullati, S., & Kliegel, M. (2020). Cognitive Reserve Mitigates Decline in Executive Functioning Following Hepatobiliary Diseases. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 79(3-4), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.1024/1421-0185/a000237
  • Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., Gouveia, B. R., Orsholits, D., Oris, M., & Kliegel, M. (2020). Solving the Puzzle of Cognitive Reserve Effects on Cognitive Decline: The Importance of Considering Functional Impairment. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 49(4), 349-354. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511768

Methodology

In this project we use data from several large-scale interdisciplinary datasets such as VLV, SEVAAI and SHARE. Besides that, we collect own data in our labs.