Predicting working memory efficiency across adulthood: the role of enhancement and suppression attentional mechanisms, moderated by age and other factors.

Abstract

The global population of individuals aged 60 years and older now exceeds one billion and continues to grow, underscoring the necessity of addressing cognitive challenges associated with aging. The present study aimed to evaluate the enhancement and suppression of attentional mechanisms, as well as working memory efficiency (WME), across the adult lifespan. Additionally, it examined factors that may moderate these relationships. A total of 194 participants, aged between 20 and 80 years, completed questionnaires and participated in an experimental task designed to assess attentional mechanisms and WME. The results indicated that both enhancement and suppression mechanisms remained stable throughout adulthood; however, WME showed a decline with increasing age. Notwithstanding, several moderating variables influenced these outcomes. Cognitive reserve and current cognitive functioning were found to be positive predictors of WME, whereas depression and anxiety exerted negative effects. Furthermore, a low level of cognitive reserve uniquely predicted diminished suppression of irrelevant information with advancing age. WME was consistently lower across all ages among participants with high levels of depression, in contrast to those with low or moderate levels, in whom WME followed the expected age-related trajectory. Additionally, elevated anxiety levels and an average sleep duration of five hours were associated with reduced WME, particularly in relation to the enhancement mechanism. Conversely, low levels of depression were linked to improved WME via the enhancement mechanism. These findings underscore the importance of moderating factors that may mitigate cognitive decline or support cognitive functioning throughout the aging process.