EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS IN HEALTHY AND MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT ELDERLY: THE ROLE OF READING AND WRITING HABITS

Background: Few studies have been made to investigate the role of cognitive stimulating habits such as frequency of reading and writing habits (FRWH) in executive functions (EF) of elderlies with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), who suffers from EF deficits. Objectives: investigate whether FRWH, a possible proxy of cognitive reserve, contributes to EF performance in healthy vs MCI elderlies. Methods: 135 elderlies with MCI (n = 88) and healthy controls (n = 47) were divided into groups of high FRWH (n = 78) and low FRWH (n = 57). Composite scores from EF tasks were extracted, including working memory, flexibility, inhibition, verbal fluency, and total EF scores. A two-way ANOVA was conducted with both clinical and FRWH groups, controlling the effects of education (years). Results: No interaction was found between the clinical group and FRWH. Significant differences between clinical groups were found in all five EF composite scores, with high and moderate effect size, showing worst scores in MCI group. Significant differences were found between FRWH groups in total EF composite score with low effect size, demonstrating worst performance from low FRWH group. Conclusions: These results indicate changes in EF in elderly people with MCI and low FRWH. Limitations regarding FRWH questionnaire measuring only frequency and not quality of reading and writing should be considered.