By Julie E 
Photo Credit ( Freepik )
The brain controls many aspects of thinking, including memory, organizing and planning, decision-making, and much more. These cognitive capacities influence our ability to live freely and perform daily duties.
As people age, certain mental shifts are typical. For instance, elderly people may:
Take longer to remember names and words.
Having trouble multitasking
Feel a slight decline in your ability to focus
In the park, three elderly guys are playing chess.Positive cognitive changes may also come with aging. For instance, numerous studies have demonstrated that older persons possess a wider vocabulary and a deeper understanding of word meanings than younger adults. It’s also possible that older folks have gained knowledge and experience throughout the years. Researchers are currently investigating if and how older persons use this knowledge, as well as how the brain changes as a result.
Older persons are still able to accomplish many of the things they have always enjoyed, even with the cognitive impairments that may accompany aging. According to research, senior citizens can still:
Age-related alterations in the brain
Every element of the body, including the brain, changes as a person ages.
The brain shrinks in several areas, particularly those involved in learning and other sophisticated mental processes.
Neurons may not communicate as well in other parts of the brain.
There may be a reduction in blood flow to the brain.
The body’s reaction to an accident or illness might lead to an increase in inflammation.
Even in healthy older adults, these brain alterations can impact mental performance. For instance, on difficult memory or learning exams, some older people may discover that their performance is inferior to that of younger people. However, they typically perform equally well if given ample time to learn a new skill. As people age, it’s common to need that extra time. There is mounting evidence that as people age, their brains continue to adapt and alter, enabling them to handle new activities and problems.
The cognitive super agers’ secrets
Some people in their 80s, 90s, and beyond challenge the common perception that aging leads to cognitive decline. These individuals, referred to as cognitive superagers, perform similarly in memory tests to those who are 20 to 30 years younger. NIA funds research on cognitive super agers, such as the “Study to Uncover Pathways to Exceptional Cognitive Resilience in Aging” at Northwestern University and the “Resilience and Resistance to Alzheimer’s Disease in Centenarians and Offspring” study at Boston University Medical Campus. Researchers are conducting research to understand what makes these individuals unique, with the goal of assisting others in avoiding (or possibly reversing) age-related cognitive loss.
If you’re worried about changes in your memory and thought processes, speak with your doctor. They’ll help you determine if those changes are normal or unusual.
The relationship between the brain and body
Science is increasingly supporting the relationship between the brain and body. Changes in our physical health, as well as changes in our brains, may influence our thoughts.
An NIA-funded study of nearly 3,000 senior citizens, for instance, demonstrated the significant advantages of healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise, abstaining from tobacco and alcohol, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, and participating in mentally challenging activities. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease was 60% lower for individuals who followed four or five of these habits than for those who followed none at all. Engaging in two or three of the activities reduced the risk by 37%.
In a different study, older persons who were more physically active exhibited shorter rates of cognitive loss compared to their less active friends. The heart is another example of mental and physical health interacting. Observational studies indicate that middle-aged high blood pressure and other cerebrovascular risk factors, such as diabetes and smoking, increase the risk of dementia.
While observational studies like these cannot establish cause and effect, they highlight potential areas for future research and suggest how a mix of changeable habits may impact the brain as people age.