Baseline cognition is the best predictor of 4-year cognitive change in cognitively intact older adults

摘要

There has been a longstanding interest in the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive ageing. One of the key characteristics of cognitive ageing [1] is decline in episodic memory performance [2]. This decline starts around the third decade [3]. The rate of decline is relatively constant within an individual under normal circumstances [3–5] but highly variable between individuals [1]. Fluid intelligence, processing speed and working memory show a similar age-related decline [3].