Late Adulthood: Cognitive

Development65 years - death

How does your brain change as you age?

What does the aging brain look like?

How does the brain slowdown?

Neurotransmitters are reduced

Reaction time, talking, thinking, walking slows

Varies markedly by individuals

Neuroscienceo Hypothalamus

(memory) & Prefrontal cortex (planning, coordinating thoughts)• Shrink faster than

other areas

o Varies based on • Education• Good health• Mental exercise

Multitasking Slows down people

of every ageo Older adults more

Older adults need to concentrate on one task at a time

Usual Information processing after age 65

How does memory change?

Working memoryo Temporary storage of information for conscious useo Reduced - Takes longer to perceive & process sensationso Inhibits multitaskingo If older people can take their time and concentrate,

working memory seems as good as ever Long-term memory

o Emotional memories – endureo Recognition

• At every age, recognition memory is better than recall• Multiple choice vs. essay

What is the effect on mental control processes?

Memory, retrieval strategies, selective attention & problem solvingo Become less effectiveo Priming of memories helps

• Presenting memory triggers (word, smell, song, etc.)

What is the effect on mental output?

Normal decline in spatial orientation, reasoning, numerical ability & word fluency

Influenced by Healtho Better predictor of cognition than age

Influenced by trainingo Training can improve any cognitive decline

Spatial orientation test

Do you remember? How does the brain slow down? What areas in the brain shrink the quickest?

o What can help reduce this shrinkage? What is the difference between working memory

and long-term memory? What is a better predictor of mental decline than

age?

Impaired functioning: What diseases affect the brain?

Dementiao Organic brain damage or disease

• Abnormal and pathological even in old age

Deliriumo Loss of memory, often with hallucinations & irrational

behavior Alzheimer disease

o Causes deterioration of memory and personalityo Most common cause of dementia

• Caused by a proliferation of plaques and tangles of proteins in the brain

o Many genes may be involved

Plaques & tangles in Alzheimer disease

What are other dementias?

Vascular dementiao Caused by insufficient blood supply to the braino Repeated infarcts (Obstructions of blood vessels in the brain)

Frontal lobe dementiao Personality changeso Deterioration of frontal lobes & amygdala

• People become disinhibited, impulsive, emotionally indifferent

Parkinson diseaseo Does not always lead to dementia

Lewy body dementiao Caused by deposits of protein (Lewy bodies) in the neuronso Motor movements and cognition effectedo Falling, fainting, loss of inhibition, inappropriate sexual urges

Vascular dementia Caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain

What are the stages from confusion to death?

Beginningo Forgetful, personality changeso Memory loss – eventually becomes dangerous

Final stageo Full-time care neededo Identity and personality are lost

Do you remember? What is considered dementia? What is the most common cause of Alzheimer

disease? What is the most common cause of vascular

dementia? What are the effects of fontal lobe dementia?

What will help with prevention and treatment?

Regular exerciseo Reduces dementia by half

Avoid pathogens causing dementiao Mad cow diseaseo AIDSo Syphilis

What can help reverse impairment?

Depression = Most common reversible cause of dementia related symptoms

Lack of nutrientso As bodies age they become less efficient

at digesting food and using its nutrientso Better diet can help

Polypharmacyo Drug side effects can cause dementia

symptoms

What are the theories of optimal cognitive development?

Eriksono Integrity vs. despair

• Older people gain interest in the arts, children

Maslowo Self-actualization

• Creative, philosophical & spiritual understanding

What is a life review? Examination of your life Sharing your life with stories

Do you remember? What pathogens can cause dementia? What can be done to help reverse impairment? What are the highest levels in Erikson’s and

Maslow’s theories that an older person can achieve?

What is the concept of a life review?