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Late Adulthood: Cognitive Development

Late Adulthood: Cognitive Development. 65 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.

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Late Adulthood: Cognitive Development

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  1. Late Adulthood: Cognitive Development 65 years - death How does your brain change as you age?

  2. What does the aging brain look like?

  3. How does the brain slowdown? • Neurotransmitters are reduced • Reaction time, talking, thinking, walking slows • Varies markedly by individuals

  4. Neuroscience • Hypothalamus (memory) & Prefrontal cortex (planning, coordinating thoughts) • Shrink faster than other areas • Varies based on • Education • Good health • Mental exercise

  5. Multitasking • Slows down people of every age • Older adults more • Older adults need to concentrate on one task at a time

  6. Usual Information processing after age 65

  7. How does memory change? • Working memory • Temporary storage of information for conscious use • Reduced - Takes longer to perceive & process sensations • Inhibits multitasking • If older people can take their time and concentrate, working memory seems as good as ever • Long-term memory • Emotional memories – endure • Recognition • At every age, recognition memory is better than recall • Multiple choice vs. essay

  8. What is the effect on mental control processes? • Memory, retrieval strategies, selective attention & problem solving • Become less effective • Priming of memories helps • Presenting memory triggers (word, smell, song, etc.)

  9. What is the effect on mental output? • Normal decline in spatial orientation, reasoning, numerical ability & word fluency • Influenced by Health • Better predictor of cognition than age • Influenced by training • Training can improve any cognitive decline Spatial orientation test

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

  11. Impaired functioning: What diseases affect the brain? • Dementia • Organic brain damage or disease • Abnormal and pathological even in old age • Delirium • Loss of memory, often with hallucinations & irrational behavior • Alzheimer disease • Causes deterioration of memory and personality • Most common cause of dementia • Caused by a proliferation of plaques and tangles of proteins in the brain • Many genes may be involved

  12. Plaques & tangles in Alzheimer disease

  13. What are other dementias? • Vascular dementia • Caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain • Repeated infarcts (Obstructions of blood vessels in the brain) • Frontal lobe dementia • Personality changes • Deterioration of frontal lobes & amygdala • People become disinhibited, impulsive, emotionally indifferent • Parkinson disease • Does not always lead to dementia • Lewy body dementia • Caused by deposits of protein (Lewy bodies) in the neurons • Motor movements and cognition effected • Falling, fainting, loss of inhibition, inappropriate sexual urges

  14. Vascular dementia • Caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain

  15. What are the stages from confusion to death? • Beginning • Forgetful, personality changes • Memory loss – eventually becomes dangerous • Final stage • Full-time care needed • Identity and personality are lost

  16. 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?

  17. What will help with prevention and treatment? • Regular exercise • Reduces dementia by half • Avoid pathogens causing dementia • Mad cow disease • AIDS • Syphilis

  18. What can help reverse impairment? • Depression = Most common reversible cause of dementia related symptoms • Lack of nutrients • As bodies age they become less efficient at digesting food and using its nutrients • Better diet can help • Polypharmacy • Drug side effects can cause dementia symptoms

  19. What are the theories of optimal cognitive development? • Erikson • Integrity vs. despair • Older people gain interest in the arts, children • Maslow • Self-actualization • Creative, philosophical & spiritual understanding

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

  21. 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?

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