M. Maria Glymour|Christophe Tzourio|Carole Dufouil
Is Cognitive Aging Predicted by One’s Own or One’s Parents’ Educational Level? Results From the Three-City Study
Harvard University|Harvard University|Harvard University
authors examined associations participants parents educational levels cognitive decline addressing methodological limitations might explain inconsistent results prior work residents dijon france n 4480 65 years age older enrolled 1999 2001 assessed using isaacs verbal fluency test benton visual retention test trail making test b minimental state examination 5 times 9 years authors used randomintercepts mixed models inverse probability weighting account differential survival conditional past performance quantile regressions assess bias measurement floors ceilings higher parental educational levels predicted better average baseline performances tests faster average decline score isaacs test higher participant educational attainment predicted better baseline performances tests slower average declines benton visual retention test trail making test b minimental state examination scores slope differences generally small robust alternative model specifications quantile regressions suggested ceiling effects might modestly biased effect estimates although direction bias might depend test instrument findings suggest possible impacts educational experiences cognitive change small domainspecific potentially incorrectly estimated conventional analyses measurement ceilings