Objectives: Evidence linking subjective concerns about cognition with poorer objective
cognitive performance is limited by reliance on unidimensional measures of self-perceptions
of aging. We used the awareness of age-related change construct to assess self-perceptions
of both positive and negative age-related changes (AARC gains ...
Objectives: Evidence linking subjective concerns about cognition with poorer objective
cognitive performance is limited by reliance on unidimensional measures of self-perceptions
of aging. We used the awareness of age-related change construct to assess self-perceptions
of both positive and negative age-related changes (AARC gains and losses). We tested
whether AARC has greater utility in linking self-perceptions to objective cognition compared
to well-established measures of self-perceptions of cognition and aging. We examined the
associations of AARC with objective cognition, several psychological variables, and
engagement in cognitive training.
Design: Cross-sectional observational study.
Participants: The sample comprised 6,056 cognitively healthy participants (Mean(SD) age=
66.0(7.0) years); divided into sub-groups representing middle, early old, and advanced old
age.
Measurements: We used an online cognitive battery and measures of global AARC, AARC
specific to the cognitive domain, subjective cognitive change, attitudes toward own aging,
subjective age, depression, anxiety, self-rated health.
Results: Scores on the AARC measures showed stronger associations with objective
cognition compared to other measures of self-perceptions of cognition and aging. Higher
AARC gains were associated with poorer cognition in middle and early old age. Higher
AARC losses and poorer cognition were associated across all sub-groups. Higher AARC
losses were associated with greater depression and anxiety, more negative self-perceptions
of aging, poorer self-rated health, but not with engagement in cognitive training.
Conclusions: Assessing both positive and negative self-perceptions of cognition and aging
is important when linking self-perceptions to cognitive functioning. Objective cognition is one
of the many variables -alongside psychological variables- related to perceived cognitive
losses