Author(s): Sudeshna Roy and Paromita Ghosh

Abstract:
The study aimed to find the influence, if any, of educational attainment of elderly persons on their extents of cognitive efficiency. Stratified random sample of 320 non-institutionalized late adults (aged 60-90 years) of middle socio-economic status families in Kolkata was selected. Socio-economic status was inferred from the previous and / or current occupation of the participants / their spouse. The sample comprised 160 female and 160 male elderly. 64 each of the participants were – a) educated up to school level; b) professional diploma / certificate-holders; c) graduates; d) post-graduates; and e) professional degree-holders. General Information schedule was administered to gather background information from participants. P.G.I. Battery for Assessment of Mental Efficiency in the Elderly [8] was administered to assess participants’ extents of cognitive efficiency in terms of rapidity of mental functions; general orientation and information; percept and motion equity; and depression. Mean and Standard Deviation values were computed. One-Way ANOVA was conducted. Results indicated significant influence of educational attainment of the elderly on their rapidity of mental functions. But in general orientation and information; percept and motion equity; and depression, the effect of education was not significant. Thus the “cognitive reserve” provided by education seems to be domain-specific in effect and not pervasive as widely thought.