Cognitive Aging and Performance in Older Adults
Summary
Cognitive aging refers to the gradual changes in mental processes that occur as people grow older. While some decline in processing speed, memory encoding and retrieval, and certain executive functions is common, the pattern and rate of change vary widely across individuals. Mechanisms underlying cognitive aging include neuronal loss, synaptic decline, altered neurotransmitter function and accumulation of pathological proteins such as tau. Life-course factors—ranging from early education and occupational complexity to mid- and late-life vascular health and social engagement—shape trajectories of decline or resilience. Neuroimaging studies reveal associations between cortical thinning, white matter integrity and performance in domains such as working memory and attention. Modifiable factors including physical activity, cognitive stimulation and management of cardiovascular risk can bolster so-called cognitive reserve, delaying the onset or mitigating the impact of age-related deficits. A comprehensive understanding of biological, psychological and social determinants is central to designing interventions that promote independence, quality of life and healthy ageing on a global scale.
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Cognitive Aging and Performance in Older Adults publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in cognitive aging and performance in older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cognitive reserve: The brain’s ability to compensate for age-related changes or pathology through efficient or alternative cognitive strategies.
Processing speed: The rate at which an individual can perceive, interpret and respond to information.
Executive function: High-level processes including planning, inhibition, task switching and working memory.
Neuroimaging: Techniques such as MRI and PET used to visualise brain structure, connectivity and metabolic activity.
Tau pathology: The abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, implicated in age-related cognitive impairment.
References
- Participant diversity is necessary to advance brain aging research. Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2024).
- Successful cognitive aging is associated with thicker anterior cingulate cortex and lower tau deposition compared to typical aging. Alzheimer's & Dementia (2023).
- Life-course neighbourhood deprivation and brain structure in older adults: the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Molecular Psychiatry (2024).
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