PSYCHOLOGICAL JOURNAL · Apr 30, 2026
SOCIO-BEHAVIORAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOMATIC PREDICTORS OF COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULTS
By Саєнко О
Background. Population aging has intensified interest in identifying modifiable factors that promote successful cognitive aging and reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. The concept of cognitive reserve suggests that lifelong educational attainment, occupational complexity, intellectual engagement, social participation, and health-related behaviors enhance the brain’s capacity to compensate for age-related neuropathological changes. Although educational and occupational factors have been extensively investigated, considerably less is known about the relative contribution of everyday lifestyle characteristics—including reading habits, social environment, pet ownership, and health-monitoring behaviors—to specific domains of cognitive functioning in later life. Understanding these multidimensional determinants is essential for developing effective preventive interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health among older adults. Objective. This study aimed to identify social-behavioral, educational, and somatic predictors of cognitive performance in older adults, with particular emphasis on verbal fluency and visual memory, and to examine the latent multidimensional structure of cognitive reserve. Methods. A cross-sectional study included 73 community-dwelling adults aged 60–80 years, comprising participants enrolled in the University of the Third Age and individuals not engaged in continuing education programs. Cognitive functioning was assessed using standardized neuropsychological measures of verbal fluency and face-recognition memory. Additional measures included demographic characteristics, educational attainment, occupational history, intellectual activity, social engagement, lifestyle behaviors, and health-related indicators obtained through a structured questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring with oblimin rotation) was conducted to identify latent dimensions of cognitive reserve. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of verbal fluency and visual memory. Results. Exploratory factor analysis identified three relatively independent dimensions of cognitive reserve: somatic health, intellectual activity, and the educational-professional component. Verbal fluency was positively predicted by the annual number of books read (β = 0.305, p = .008) and pet ownership (β = 2.62, p = .020), whereas widowhood was associated with lower verbal fluency (β = –2.82, p = .013). Visual memory performance was positively associated with regular blood pressure monitoring (β = 0.458, p = .018) and longer professional engagement (β = 0.058, p = .017), while larger social network size demonstrated an unexpected negative association (β = –0.031, p = .033). These findings indicate that different cognitive domains are influenced by distinct combinations of behavioral, social, educational, and health-related factors rather than by a single global cognitive reserve mechanism. Conclusions. Cognitive reserve appears to represent a multidimensional and functionally differentiated construct integrating intellectual engagement, educational and occupational experience, and health-related behaviors. The findings suggest that cognitive functioning in older adulthood may be supported through modifiable lifestyle factors, including sustained reading activity, prolonged professional engagement, maintenance of meaningful social relationships, and proactive health monitoring. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting multidomain interventions for healthy cognitive aging and provide empirical guidance for designing prevention programs targeting cognitive decline in older populations. Keywords: cognitive reserve; cognitive aging; verbal fluency; visual memory; healthy aging; intellectual activity; lifestyle factors; older adults; neuropsychological assessment.