Baby boomers experience a steeper decline in cognitive function as they age compared to previous generations, according to one study. Future generations could also be exposed to the same risks.
Researchers recently examined the cognitive test scores of more than 30,000 Americans over the age of fifty enrolled in a long-term research project carried out by the University of Michigan.
As part of this program, small exercises were offered to volunteers to assess their cognitive functions every two years. In total, the study analyzed almost twenty years of data collected from 1996 to 2014.
These scores were then broken down by generation:those born between 1890 and 1923, those of the Early Children of Depression (born 1924-1930) and those of the Late Children of Depression (born from 1931 to 1941). Next are the War Babies (from 1942 to 1947), the Early Baby Boomers (born 1948-1953) and the Mid-Baby Boomers (born from 1954 to 1959).
The results of this work, published in The Journals of Gerontology:Series B , showed that cognitive acuity improved from generation to generation before reaching a "peak" in people born in 1942-1947. However, scores started to drop among early baby boomers (born in 1948-1953). They then continued to decrease among those born in 1954-1959.
“Shocking to see this decline in cognitive functioning in baby boomers after generations of rising test scores “, explains Hui Zheng, lead author of the study. "What surprised me most is that this decline is seen across all groups of people:men and women, of all races and ethnicities, and at all levels of education, income and wealth “.
These results may be counterintuitive. Indeed, we might imagine that baby boomers enjoyed better access to education or health care than previous generations.
To explain this finding, the researchers point to several possible underlying causes. These include higher levels of loneliness and depression . They also mention an increase in cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease).
This cognitive decline will continue to continue over time, with the youngest baby boomers now approaching their 60s. After this age, we are indeed more exposed to Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.
Furthermore, if the factors cited above indeed play a role in this decline in our cognitive acuity, then we might imagine that members of Generations X and Y will be they too face the same challenges.
Nevertheless, according to Hui Zheng, this trend is not necessarily irreversible. More physical activity, healthy eating and strong social ties can indeed reduce these risks.
