Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

The aging Canadian population has given rise to increased research emphasis on understanding the heterogeneity in the rate of cognitive change among older adults, due to both normative and pathological influences. The majority of studies have focused on pathological cognitive decline, and in comparison, studies examining successful aging have been limited. As a result, there is no current consensus in the way successful aging is operationally defined or measured, nor have key variables (other than age) been identified that reliably predict successful aging. In addition, cognitive abilities have been assessed using global measures yet few studies have used more fine-grained measures assessing specific neuropsychological domains (e.g., executive functioning, fluid reasoning). Given the growing proportion of older adults in the Canadian population, it is critical to understand the factors that contribute to sustained cognitive vitality. Thus, the objectives of this proposed study on successful cognitive aging are three-fold: 1) to compare and contrast various definitions of successful cognitive aging (e.g., cognitive stability versus age normative stability); 2) to examine if select factors (e.g., age, education, initial performance level, chronic health conditions) can predict which individuals will experience successful cognitive aging across a number of cognitive domains and; 3) to examine whether the factors that predict better performance at baseline in each of these domains are the same as those that predict preservation of cognitive abilities over a 5-year period. By identifying reliable predictors of successful aging, findings can facilitate positive change in the day-to-day lives of older adults, such as promoting active living in the community. On a national scale, findings from this investigation may inform public health initiatives to promote healthy aging in the Canadian population.