Psychological state in adolescence is associated with memory in old age

Psychological distress in early adolescence was associated with memory complaints nearly six decades later. People who were more stressed about school and more anxious at age 13 reported more memory problems at age 67. The scientists' work was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B (J Gerontol).

The researchers analyzed data from 625 people who were followed for most of their lives. At ages 10 and 13, participants were assessed for psychological well-being, social well-being, socioeconomic status, and cognitive ability. At age 67, they completed questionnaires about everyday memory problems and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The analysis showed that worse psychological state at age 13 was associated with more severe subjective memory impairment in old age. This association persisted even after controlling for anxiety and depressive symptoms at age 67. However, scientists did not find a similar connection with the psychological state at 10 years of age.

Social well-being, family financial status, cognitive ability, and school performance at age 13 also did not reliably predict memory complaints decades later.

The authors emphasize that the results do not prove that adolescent anxiety directly causes memory decline in old age. However, they indicate that psychological well-being in early adolescence may be associated with a person's cognitive health even almost 60 years later.