Aging and Decline in Cognitive Abilities

Aging and Decline in Cognitive Abilities

The video Successful Cognitive and Emotional Aging (2009) examines some of the behaviors that individuals can practice in order to facilitate mental well-being as one advances in age. Neuroplasticity is the capacity of the brain's ability to change in response to behavior and environment. The video suggests ten strategies for to promote successful cognitive and emotional aging. 1) Physical activity, regular aerobic exercise and strength building. 2) Nutrition, the intake of colorful fruits and vegetables as well as multivitamins combined with staying hydrated caloric restriction. 3) No smoking and the moderate consumption of alcohol. 4) Sleep well and treat sleep apnea. 5) Maintain a healthy skepticism concerning anti-aging supplements, products and procedures. 6) Keep cognitively active through work, lifelong learning, volunteering and novel and challenging leisure activities. 7) Remain socially active by spending some time with people every day by joining a club, a social organization or taking a class. 8) Reduce stress and seek help for depressive symptoms (depression is not a normal part of aging). 9) Rely on your strengths and experience. 10) Stay positive, optimistic people tend to live longer. Genetics account for only about 25% of what determines health as people age.

Barbara Bjorklund (2010) notes there are two components to intelligence, crystallized intelligence which is dependent on education and experience, and fluid intelligence which requires adaptation to new situations and requires abstract reasoning. Research indicates that crystallized abilities continue to grow into the 60s and show only gradual declines in the 70s. However certain fluid abilities, such as speed of processing, and working memory show initial declines around 35 to 40. Cognitive abilities are influenced by health, genetics, demographics, schooling, intellectual activity, and physical exercise.

In order to maintain cognitive abilities it is important for individuals of any age to get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and get the proper amount of sleep and rest. Furthermore cognitive activities help to keep the mind sharp and alert while reducing the risk or delaying the onset of age related dementia. Cognition means the process of knowing and includes reasoning, awareness, perception, knowledge, intuition, and judgment. These skills allow a person to process all the information they receive from their five senses. They give a person the ability to recall things from memory and are needed to analyze images and sounds their senses perceive, maintain concentration, and draw associations from various pieces of information (Hurley, 2011).