[A three-component model of intelligence development in the elderly. Results from the Bonn Gerontologic Longitudinal Study]

Abstract

Life-span developmental psychology has demonstrated that further cognitive development takes place also in old age. Therefore, this study aims at locating a distinct intellectual structure of older people. Twelve cognitive measured from the "Bonn Longitudinal Study of Aging" are analyzed. Factoranalysis reveals a model with three components: a crystallized, a visual, and a memory component. They represent also different cognitive strategies. Within the aging process the crystallized component is the most stable one. Up to 70 respectively 75 years no decrement can be observed in the development of the other two components. When people are more than 80 years old the number of factors is reduced to two. This is regarded as a process of focusing resources. Verbal and visual strategies are integrated in order to compensate losses.