Cognitive functioning in elderly people and the influence of socioeducational variables- Results of the ELES Study

Cognitive functioning undergoes changes in the elderly. The degree of decline is not the same in all cognitive functions and other variables, such as educational level or professional performance throughout the life cycle, can cause this decline to slow.

The aim of this study is to learn the pattern of cognitive performance in people over the age of 50, taking into account the influence of educational level and profession. The data from this research come from the pilot study conducted in the Longitudinal Ageing Study in Spain in which a representative sample of the non-institutionalised elderly Spanish population was evaluated.

Within cognitive performance in global cognitive functioning, verbal memory, working memory span, visual-motor speed and language were evaluated.

Differences between age groups were found in all variables. Also, differences in the groups were found according to educational level and type of profession, which was kept by controlling age. Population studies allow a more global perspective of cognitive performance of the elderly, and the role of the different factors associated with it.