The engagement hypothesis of cognitive aging suggests that age-related declines in intellectual functioning may to some extent be buffered by a lifestyle marked by social and intellectual engagement. Evidence for this idea, however, is primarily based on correlation data, which is subject to other interpretations, making it unclear whether engagement enhances cognitive function - or whether more intellectually capable individuals are prone to engagement. Training studies, in which cognitive and intellectual abilities are selectively trained, have been found to produce very little transfer to other abilities. Our goal in this project is to collect pilot data on the effects of a program of intellectual and social engagement, involving creative problem solving in a social/collaborative context. The Senior Odyssey project, developed in conjunction with the NIA-funded Roybal Center for Healthy Minds, is modeled on the Odyssey of the Mind program, developed for children and young adults over 20 years ago. In this program, participants work in teams to develop solutions to """"""""long-term"""""""" problems that require reflection and negotiated planning in the generation of a creative product (e.g., building a wood structure to hold a certain amount of weight or a vehicle to achieve a given transportation goal, or write and perform a play to illustrate a certain point), as well as to practice """"""""spontaneous"""""""" problems, which require fluency, flexibility, and originality in the context of social interaction. Senior volunteers will be randomly assigned to participate in the Senior Odyssey program or to selective cognitive training (i.e., speed training or memory training). The hypothesis to be tested is that the practice of basic cognitive skills (e.g., speed, memory, fluency, executive function) situated in the rich context of social interaction and goals for creative work will broadly enhance cognitive function as well as increase mindfulness, perceived control, and life satisfaction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03AG024551-02
Application #
6942648
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Elias, Jeffrey W
Project Start
2004-09-01
Project End
2006-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$65,960
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Education
DUNS #
041544081
City
Champaign
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
61820
Parisi, Jeanine M (2010) Engagement in Adulthood: Perceptions and Participation in Daily Activities. Act Adapt Aging 34:1-16
Parisi, Jeanine M; Stine-Morrow, Elizabeth A L; Noh, Soo Rim et al. (2009) Predispositional engagement, activity engagement, and cognition among older adults. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 16:485-504
Stine-Morrow, Elizabeth A L; Parisi, Jeanine M; Morrow, Daniel G et al. (2008) The effects of an engaged lifestyle on cognitive vitality: a field experiment. Psychol Aging 23:778-86
Stine-Morrow, Elizabeth A L; Parisi, Jeanine M; Morrow, Daniel G et al. (2007) An engagement model of cognitive optimization through adulthood. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 62 Spec No 1:62-9