Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

An Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Ageing on Sentence Processing
Published on: October 25, 2019
[Effect of aging on non-literal language treatment]
Maud Champagne1, Jean-Louis Seendy, Yves Joanette
1Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie Montréal, Université de Montréal, QC, H3W 1W5, Canada. M-Champagne@crhsc.rtss.qc.ca
Abstract:
Communication abilities are known to decline with age. In daily life, such abilities are frequently of the non-literal type, which require more cognitive resources to be processed. Since these resources tend to diminish with age, this study seeks to identify a possible effect of age on non-literal language abilities. Forty young and 40 older adults of two different education levels were compared on their non-literal and literal language abilities. Results suggest that age does not affect the processing of non-literal language but could affect some preliminary components of the task, thought to require more cognitive resources. This study does not provide direct evidence to suggest that elderly participants experience specific difficulties in processing non-literal language.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

