Education And Decline Of Cognitive Abilities In Late Adulthood

Maintained and good functioning of cognitive processes is the important factor for healthy aging and the independent functioning of the elderly in society. The study tests cognitive abilities in a sample of 200 urban environmental respondents in ages ranging from 50 to 69 years divided into four age groups: 50 54. 55 59, 60 64. 65 69 in the framework of the city research project about the health habits of inhabitants. For data analysis, the three-level measurements of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities International Edition were used measured by Full Scale of Intelligence and three clusters: Verbal Abilities, Thinking Abilities and Cognitive Efficiency. The three factor ANOVA. Spearman correlation test, linear regression and 1-test were performed. The most statistically significant decline in the cognitive ability was found in the segment of vocational education in the verbal and fluid thinking abilities. For the higher education segment, the decline in cognitive abilities was reflected in cognitive efficiency cluster, in the capacity of the temporary working memory. Basic education segment demonstrated not statistically significant decline. Studies show that certain cognitive abilities can be trained and thus delay the aging process. Training and education are one of the important factors preventing the aging of cognitive processes.