Cognitive Age Is A Better Predicter Of Future Cognitive Impairment Than Chronological Age

A person’s “cognitive age” is a better predictor of the person’s risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and dementia than the person’s chronological age. Cognitive age is an indicator of brain health based on performance on cognitive assessments, medical history, neurological examinations, and neurocognitive tests. On average, cognition remains stable until a cognitive age of 80. Cognitive ability declines moderately until a cognitive age of 90, and then declines more rapidly until death.

Cognitive age is defined by a person’s performance on cognitive tests normed to account for age-related cognitive decline. Those who perform better . . .