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Secular Changes in Late-Life Cognition and Well-Being: Towards a Long Bright Future with a Short Brisk Ending?

Author

Listed:
  • Denis Gerstorf
  • Gizem Hülür
  • Johanna Drewelies
  • Peter Eibich
  • Sandra Duezel
  • Ilja Demuth
  • Paolo Ghisletta
  • Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen
  • Gert G. Wagner
  • Ulman Lindenberger

Abstract

How socio-cultural contexts shape individual functioning is of prime interest for psychological inquiry. Secular increases favoring later-born cohorts in fluid intelligence measures are widely documented for young adults. In the current study, we quantify such trends in old age using data from highly comparable participants living in a narrowly defined geographical area and examine whether these trends generalize to quality of life indicators. To do so, we compared data obtained 20 years apart in the Berlin Aging Study (in 1990–93) and the Berlin Aging Study II (in 2013–14), applied a case-matched control design (per cohort, n = 161, Mage = 75), quantified sample selection using a nationally representative sample as the reference, and controlled for number of physical diseases. The later cohort performed better on the fluid intelligence measure (d = .85) and reported higher morale, less negative affect, and more positive affect (ds > .39) than the earlier cohort. We conclude that secular advances have resulted in better cognitive performance and perceived quality of life among older adults and discuss when and how advantages of later cohorts reach their limits.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis Gerstorf & Gizem Hülür & Johanna Drewelies & Peter Eibich & Sandra Duezel & Ilja Demuth & Paolo Ghisletta & Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen & Gert G. Wagner & Ulman Lindenberger, 2015. "Secular Changes in Late-Life Cognition and Well-Being: Towards a Long Bright Future with a Short Brisk Ending?," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 738, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp738
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James W. Vaupel, 2010. "Biodemography of human ageing," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7288), pages 536-542, March.
    2. Deborah Finkel & Chandra A. Reynolds & John J. McArdle & Nancy L. Pedersen, 2007. "Cohort Differences in Trajectories of Cognitive Aging," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(5), pages 286-294.
    3. Ryan P. Bowles & Kevin J. Grimm & John J. McArdle, 2005. "A Structural Factor Analysis of Vocabulary Knowledge and Relations to Age," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 60(5), pages 234-241.
    4. Denise Saßenroth & Martin Kroh & Gert G. Wagner, 2013. "Selectivity Processes in and Weights for the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II)," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 608, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
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    1. Nauman, Ahmad Tauseef & Behlouli, Hassan & Alexander, Nicholas & Kendel, Friederike & Drewelies, Johanna & Mantantzis, Konstantinos & Berger, Nora & Wagner, Gert G. & Gerstorf, Denis & Demuth, Ilja & , 2021. "Gender Score Development in the Berlin Aging Study II : A Retrospective Approach," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue 12.
    2. Hans-Werner Wahl & Dorly Deeg & Howard Litwin, 2016. "Successful ageing as a persistent priority in ageing research," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-3, March.
    3. Nanna Notthoff & Johanna Drewelies & Paulina Kazanecka & Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen & Kristina Norman & Sandra Düzel & Martin Daumer & Ulman Lindenberger & Ilja Demuth & Denis Gerstorf, 2018. "Feeling older, walking slower—but only if someone’s watching. Subjective age is associated with walking speed in the laboratory, but not in real life," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 425-433, December.

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    Keywords

    Cohort; cognitive ability; well-being; sociocultural factors; individual differences;
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