Motivation as a Mediator of the Relation Between Cognitive Reserve and Cognitive Performance

Abstract

Objectives Interindividual differences in cognitive aging may be explained by differences in cognitive reserve (CR) that are built up across the life span. A plausible but underresearched mechanism for these differences is that CR helps compensating cognitive decline by enhancing motivation to cope with challenging cognitive situations. Theories of motivation on cognition suggest that perceived capacity and intrinsic motivation may be key mediators in this respect. Method In 506 older adults, we assessed CR proxies (education, occupation, leisure activities), motivation (perceived capacity, intrinsic motivation), and a global measure of cognitive functioning. Results Perceived capacity, but not intrinsic motivation, significantly mediated the relation between CR and cognitive performance. Discussion Complementary with neurobiological and cognitive processes, our results suggest a more comprehensive view of the role of motivational aspects built up across the life span in determining differences in cognitive performance in old age.

Lower executive functioning predicts steeper subsequent decline in well-being only in young-old but not old-old age

“…Another conceptual perspective highlights the role of well-being in determining cognitive aging trajectories. For example, a positive self-evaluation of aging might be instrumental for an individual’s development (Kornadt et al, 2017) and for having positive consequences for different outcomes of healthy aging, such as cognitive functioning and health through motivational and activity engagement pathways (Hicks & Siedlecki, 2017; Vallet et al, 2018; Wurm et al, 2010; Zuber et al, 2019). Moreover, a further conceptual view proposes a reciprocal relationship between cognitive functioning and well-being, that is, both domains are influencing each other (Lawton, 1983; Rowe & Cosco, 2016).…”

Higher levels of neuroticism in older adults predict lower executive functioning across time: the mediating role of perceived stress

“…Data stem from the first and second waves of the longitudinal study "Vivre -Leben -Vivere" (VLV), which investigated cognitive aging across the lifespan in Switzerland. Participants were assessed in 2011 and 2017 in a face-to-face computer-assisted personal interview (for more details on the procedure, see Ihle et al, 2018;Künzi et al, 2021;Mella et al, 2018;Vallet et al, 2020).…”

Solving the Puzzle of Cognitive Reserve Effects on Cognitive Decline: The Importance of Considering Functional Impairment

“…We used the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire [43] to assess proxies of accumulated cognitive reserve during life (comprising education, cognitive demand of jobs, and leisure activity engagement). To obtain an overall indicator of cognitive reserve accumulated across the lifespan, we computed a total cognitive reserve score (see [43, 44] for a detailed description). We controlled for the overall number of chronic diseases (such as heart diseases of ischemic or organic pathogenesis, primary arrhythmias, pulmonary heart diseases, hypertension, and peripheral vascular diseases) participants suffered from in W1 [45].…”