Affective and Cognitive Theory of Mind in Aging: What’s the Role of Executive Functions and Cognitive Reserve on the Decline?

BackgroundTheory of Mind (ToM), the ability to infer others' mental states, is central to social interaction and may be sensitive to age-related differences. This study explored variations in cognitive and affective ToM across adulthood and examined the roles of executive functions (EFs), general cognition, and Cognitive Reserve (CR).MethodsNinety-six participants were assigned to three groups: Young Adults (20-40), Older Adults (65-75), and Senior Older Adults (76-86). Cognitive ToM was assessed with the Strange Stories and II Order Stories tasks, and affective ToM with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. Measures of processing speed, working memory, long-term memory, EFs (updating, shifting, inhibition), and CR were included.ResultsBoth cognitive and affective ToM varied by age group, with younger adults performing better than older groups. Updating and shifting predicted ToM performance, accounting for group differences in cognitive ToM and partially in affective ToM. CR, particularly occupational activity, moderated the association between age group and cognitive ToM: differences emerged at low CR but not at high CR levels.ConclusionsFindings suggest that age-related differences in ToM are associated with executive functioning and that higher CR may mitigate these differences, supporting the role of cognitive engagement in social-cognitive maintenance.