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Consequences of age-related cognitive declines
1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22904-4400, USA. salthouse@virginia.edu
Annual Review of Psychology
|July 12, 2011
Summary
Cognitive abilities decline with age, but this often doesn't impact real-world success. This review explores the reasons for this discrepancy between lab findings and everyday functioning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Gerontology
- Occupational psychology
Background:
- Age-related cognitive decline is well-documented in laboratory settings.
- Cognitive abilities are linked to workplace and daily life success.
- A discrepancy exists between observed cognitive changes and real-world functioning in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on age and cognition.
- To examine the link between cognition and real-world functioning.
- To explore reasons for the lack of impact of cognitive decline on everyday life.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on age and cognition.
- Review of research linking cognitive abilities to real-world performance.
- Analysis of studies on work performance and achievement across the lifespan.
Main Results:
- While age-related cognitive declines are common, they are not consistently associated with lower real-world functioning.
- The relationship between cognitive abilities and everyday success is complex.
- Many factors may mediate the impact of cognitive changes on daily life.
Conclusions:
- Age-related cognitive declines do not always translate to diminished real-world functioning.
- Explanations for this lab-life discrepancy require further investigation.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for supporting successful aging.
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