A study investigated the effects of selected psychophysiological factors known to affect cognitive functioning on the reading achievement of older adults. The subjects, 34 noninstitutionalized adults ranging in age from 50 to 88 years, completed measures of (1) self-reported mental and physical health, (2) nonverbal intelligence, (3) reading interests and attitudes, (4) state and trait anxiety, and (4) functional reading ability. They also supplied biographical data. Results showed that for the subjects, self-assessed mental and physical health and nonverbal intelligence were significant contributors to functional reading achievement. Sex, age, socioeconomic status, reading attitude, and state and trait anxiety did not contribute significantly to the variance of the reading test scores. The results indicate that aging "per se" does not affect cognitive functioning as it relates to functional reading ability. (FL)