Meaning in life: resilience beyond reserve

• Published in: Alzheimer's research & therapy Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 47
• Main Authors: Bartrés-Faz, David, Cattaneo, Gabriele, Solana, Javier, Tormos, Josep M, Pascual-Leone, Alvaro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 24-05-2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Affective status; Aged; Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Anxiety; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cognitive reserve; Cognitive Reserve - physiology; Cohort Studies; Dementia; Disease; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Meaning in life; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - psychology; Neuroplasticity; Older people; Personality; Personality traits; Purpose in life; Resilience, Psychological; Sense of coherence; Sense of Coherence - physiology; Sleep; Stroke; Surveys and Questionnaires; Systematic review; Cognitive reserve; Purpose in life; Sense of coherence; Meaning in life; Cognition; Affective status
• ISSN: 1758-9193; 1758-9193
• DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0381-z

The contribution of psychological factors to brain health and resilience remains poorly investigated. Furthermore, their possible interaction with 'classical' cognitive reserve (CR) estimates in predicting perceived mental health and cognitive status has not been specifically addressed.
We obtained data from 1081 adults responding to questionnaires on the three meaning in life (MiL) dimensions: purpose in life (PiL), sense of coherence (SoC), and engagement with life (EwL). A questionnaire on CR variables was also administered. The outcome measures were self-reported cognitive function and affective status (depression, stress, and anxiety). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic variables, MiL dimensions, and CR with the two selected outcomes. Mediation analyses, adjusted for age and gender, were applied to determine whether the MiL dimensions mediated the putative effects of CR on self-reported mental and cognitive health.
All three MiL components, but not CR estimates, correlated with the self-reported affective status of the participants. Higher CR, PiL, and SoC (but not EwL) scores significantly correlated with higher perceived cognitive function. Notably, the observed association between the CR measures and self-reported cognitive function was mediated by PiL and SoC.
Psychological MiL dimensions mediate the association between classic CR estimates and self-perceived cognitive function. Further studies on CR could consider including formal measures of such psychological factors to better understand their unique or synergistic contributions, as well as investigate the associated mechanisms maintaining brain function at older ages.