| Abstract: |
The aim of this paper was to use a parametric stochastic frontier approach
(coming from the economic literature) to explore the impact of the concept of
activity (taken in a broad sense: i.e., including both professional and
non-professional activities) on the constitution and the care of cognitive
reserve among the European population aged 50 and up. For this purpose, we use
individual data collected during the first wave of SHARE (Survey on Health,
Ageing and Retirement in Europe) performed in 2004. The advantages of this
survey were (1) it included a large population (n = 18,623) geographically
distributed throughout Europe; and (2) it simultaneously analyzed several
dimensions (physical and mental health, mobility, occupational activities,
socioeconomic status, etc.). Our results confirm the positive impact of
occupational activities on the cognitive functioning of elderly people. These
results are discussed in terms of the prevention of cognitive aging and
Alzheimer’s disease, and more particularly of retirement policy issues. |