- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 121 Normal cognition and ageing: structure, function, and cognitive reserve
- Chapter 122 Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease: a relevant challenge for long-term follow-up of a population-based cohort
- Chapter 123 Cognitive impairment—risk factors and prevention
- Chapter 124 Neuropsychological evaluation of cognition
- Chapter 125 Mild cognitive impairment
- Chapter 126 The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: assessment and criteria
- Chapter 127 Assessment and diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer dementias
- Chapter 128 Pharmacological interventions in mild cognitive impairment and dementia
- Chapter 129 Non-pharmacologic behavioural activity interventions to prevent dementia
- Chapter 130 Management of comorbidities in dementia patients
- Chapter 131 Evidence-based management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Chapter 132 Caregivers in dementia: role and empowerment
- Chapter 133 A new model of care for patients with dementia: the Japanese initiative for dementia care
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 943) Normal cognition and ageing: structure, function, and cognitive reserve
- Chapter:
- (p. 943) Normal cognition and ageing: structure, function, and cognitive reserve
- Author(s):
John Starr
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0121
Defining normative trajectories of cognitive ageing is essential to determine what is abnormal. Normative cognitive ageing, in itself, correlates highly with changes in everyday function, and thus impacts on the lives of the majority of older adults who do not develop dementia. What is normative depends on: 1) the degree of cognitive change; 2) the pattern of change across cognitive domains; and 3) the concurrence of non-cognitive features, such as changes in activities of daily living. Cognitive reserve influences the third of these predicates and comprises both static and dynamic components. Social context determines the dementia threshold, hence also contributing to the definition of what can be considered as normative cognitive change. Life course studies are essential for the identification of factors that influence normative cognitive ageing to avoid drawing false inferences due to reverse causation.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 121 Normal cognition and ageing: structure, function, and cognitive reserve
- Chapter 122 Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease: a relevant challenge for long-term follow-up of a population-based cohort
- Chapter 123 Cognitive impairment—risk factors and prevention
- Chapter 124 Neuropsychological evaluation of cognition
- Chapter 125 Mild cognitive impairment
- Chapter 126 The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: assessment and criteria
- Chapter 127 Assessment and diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer dementias
- Chapter 128 Pharmacological interventions in mild cognitive impairment and dementia
- Chapter 129 Non-pharmacologic behavioural activity interventions to prevent dementia
- Chapter 130 Management of comorbidities in dementia patients
- Chapter 131 Evidence-based management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Chapter 132 Caregivers in dementia: role and empowerment
- Chapter 133 A new model of care for patients with dementia: the Japanese initiative for dementia care
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing