Abstract
Some key aspects of cognitive performance begin to decline in middle age. Emerging evidence indicates midlife cognitive functioning may hold clues about cognitive impairment and neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study provides an opportunity to explore antecedents and consequences of cognitive health. Cognitive performance was measured with the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT). Psychosocial and behavioral factors identified as protective for cognitive functioning are considered. These findings provide evidence of factors that can reduce or delay cognitive declines and attenuate social disparities in cognitive aging. The relationship between cognition and physical health is also considered. Cognitive abilities are examined as a resource with implications for subjective age and resilience in the face of adversity and challenge (e.g., stress). Next steps include charting trajectories of cognitive aging and identifying patterns and mechanisms that lead to optimal functioning in later life.