the data from the structural equation analysis permit the partial confirmation of the proposed theoretical model the obtained model confirms the strong influence of the level of global activity after retirement on cognitive performance and cognitive plasticity in old age. thus it may be said that an active lifestyle in old age, characterized by activity in the home such as housework, household accounting and management, watching television, listening to the radio, reading newspapers and/or books, doing puzzles, writing letters, doing handicrafts, etc.; physical activities such as scale and regularity of physical exercise; cultural activities such as attendance at talks, visiting exhibitions, attendance at cultural gatherings, participation in training courses, participation in charity work, etc.; and social relations such as number of times per week the respondent goes out, the frequency with which he or she meets with friends and the size of his or her circle of friends, seems to guarantee a high level of cognitive performance and greater cognitive plasticity in elderly persons. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the model obtained does not demonstrate that global level of activity before retirement is predictive of plasticity in later life.