Longitudinal assessment of pragmatic and cognitive decay in healthy aging, and interplay with subjective cognitive decline and cognitive reserve

Aging involves a general slowdown in the function of multiple cognitive areas. Longitudinal assessment of comprehension and production in pragmatic communication is lacking and whether subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and cognitive reserve (CR) interact with pragmatic competence in aging is unknown. The study sample was a small group of older adults. Pragmatic and cognitive abilities were compared at baseline and at follow up. Pragmatic comprehension and production were assessed across different expressive means. Correlations between decay in pragmatic ability and SCD and CR were tested. Pragmatic ability and comprehension, in particular, seemed to decline with age, as did naming skills, working memory, and executive functions. A correlation between SCD, CR and pragmatic ability was detected. This preliminary study on the longitudinal assessment of pragmatic decay in aging yielded novel insights into SCD and CR in healthy aging.