Normal cognitive aging

Abstract

Even those who do not experience dementia or mild cognitive impairment may experience subtle cognitive changes associated with aging. Normal cognitive changes can affect an older adult's everyday function and quality of life, and a better understanding of this process may help clinicians distinguish normal from disease states. This article describes the neurocognitive changes observed in normal aging, followed by a description of the structural and functional alterations seen in aging brains. Practical implications of normal cognitive aging are then discussed, followed by a discussion of what is known about factors that may mitigate age-associated cognitive decline.

Keywords: Aging; Cognition; Dementia; Mild cognitive impairment.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest:

Drs. Harada, Natelson Love, Triebel: none

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal, dorsolateral frontal, and frontopolar regions): atrophy is associated with deficits in executive function, working memory and increased perseveration. Keep the arrows and the labels Dorsolatateral prefrontal cortex and Orbitofrontal cortex. On top of the arrows on the left hand side include term: Prefontal Cortex Modified From: Dickson, Victoria V., PhD, MSN, CRNP, Tkacs, Nancy, PhD, RN, Riegel, Barbara, DNSc, RN, CS, FAAN. Cognitive influences on self-care decision making inpersons with heart failure. American Heart Journal. 2007;154:424–431.

Figure 2

Hippocampus and entorhinal cortex- atrophy has been associated with deficits in episodic memory.