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Health and Cognition in Old Age pp 105–122Cite as

Social, Behavioral, and Contextual Influences on Cognitive Function and Decline over the Life Course

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Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Aging ((Int. Perspect. Aging,volume 10))

Abstract

Maintaining cognitive function is a prerequisite for living autonomously in older age and it is highly desirable to postpone cognitive decline for as long as possible. In order to understand how cognitive function is shaped across the life course, it is necessary to focus on life course influences on cognitive aging. The chapter gives a selective review of current knowledge on life course influences on later-life cognitive function with a particular focus on the most recent developments in research on cognitive reserve between 2008 and 2013. First, the theoretical framework of cognitive reserve and life course epidemiology is introduced. Then, an overview is given on life course influences that have been shown to shape later cognitive function, with a focus on important factors of social and behavioral nature, such as education, work environment, and social and physical activities. New research on contextual factors, such as neighborhood socioeconomic status, schooling laws, and retirement policies is then presented. The chapter ends with prospects for further research.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Anja K. Leist has been supported by the Fonds National de la Recherche, Luxembourg (grant INTER/FLARE2/10/01). We would like to thank Dr. Blossom Stephan for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education, University of Luxembourg, Route de Diekirch, B.P. 2, L-7201, Walferdange, Luxembourg

    Anja K. Leist

  2. Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Johan P. Mackenbach

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  1. Anja K. Leist
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Correspondence to Anja K. Leist .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education, University of Luxembourg, Walferdange, Luxembourg

    Anja K. Leist

  2. Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Jenni Kulmala

  3. Mental Health Promotion Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, THL, Vaasa, Finland

    Fredrica Nyqvist

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© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Leist, A.K., Mackenbach, J.P. (2014). Social, Behavioral, and Contextual Influences on Cognitive Function and Decline over the Life Course. In: Leist, A., Kulmala, J., Nyqvist, F. (eds) Health and Cognition in Old Age. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06650-9_8

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