Lifetime intellectual function and satisfaction with life in old age: longitudinal cohort study

A. Gow; M. C. Whiteman; A. Pattie; Lawrence Jeffrey Whalley; I. J. Deary; J. M. Starr

doi:10.1136/bmj.38531.675660.F7

Lifetime intellectual function and satisfaction with life in old age: longitudinal cohort study

A. Gow, M. C. Whiteman, A. Pattie, Lawrence Jeffrey Whalley, I. J. Deary, J. M. Starr

School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

What is successful ageing? Current opinion is that “cognitive vitality is essential to quality of life…in old age.” 1 This depends substantially on people's cognitive ability from early life, 2 and on how much they decline from their cognitive peak in young adulthood. Early cognitive ability also affects physical health and even survival to old age. 2 But surely happiness and satisfaction with life are also key indices of successful ageing. Happiness was described as “the highest good and ultimate motivation for human action” 3; this does not seem to be related to current cognitive ability. 3 Cognitive level in youth and the amount of cognitive change across the lifespan are important indicators of cognitive vitality in old age. We examined a unique data set to investigate whether these factors are associated with people being happier.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	141-142
Number of pages	2
Journal	British Medical Journal
Volume	331
Issue number	7509
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38531.675660.F7
Publication status	Published - 6 Jul 2005

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10.1136/bmj.38531.675660.F7

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title = "Lifetime intellectual function and satisfaction with life in old age: longitudinal cohort study",

abstract = "What is successful ageing? Current opinion is that “cognitive vitality is essential to quality of life…in old age.” 1 This depends substantially on people's cognitive ability from early life, 2 and on how much they decline from their cognitive peak in young adulthood. Early cognitive ability also affects physical health and even survival to old age. 2 But surely happiness and satisfaction with life are also key indices of successful ageing. Happiness was described as “the highest good and ultimate motivation for human action” 3; this does not seem to be related to current cognitive ability. 3 Cognitive level in youth and the amount of cognitive change across the lifespan are important indicators of cognitive vitality in old age. We examined a unique data set to investigate whether these factors are associated with people being happier. ",

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AU - Whiteman, M. C.

AU - Pattie, A.

AU - Whalley, Lawrence Jeffrey

AU - Deary, I. J.

AU - Starr, J. M.

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AB - What is successful ageing? Current opinion is that “cognitive vitality is essential to quality of life…in old age.” 1 This depends substantially on people's cognitive ability from early life, 2 and on how much they decline from their cognitive peak in young adulthood. Early cognitive ability also affects physical health and even survival to old age. 2 But surely happiness and satisfaction with life are also key indices of successful ageing. Happiness was described as “the highest good and ultimate motivation for human action” 3; this does not seem to be related to current cognitive ability. 3 Cognitive level in youth and the amount of cognitive change across the lifespan are important indicators of cognitive vitality in old age. We examined a unique data set to investigate whether these factors are associated with people being happier.

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JO - British Medical Journal

JF - British Medical Journal

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Lifetime intellectual function and satisfaction with life in old age: longitudinal cohort study

Abstract

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