Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
10:13
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
12.4K
Does cognitive function increase over time in the healthy elderly?
Jocelyne de Rotrou1, Ya-Huei Wu, Jean-Bernard Mabire
1Service de Gérontologie, Hôpital Broca, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France ; Equipe d'Accueil 4468, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Plos One
|November 19, 2013
Summary
Cognitive function scores in healthy older adults have significantly increased over time. Contemporary octogenarians perform similarly to earlier septuagenarians, suggesting improved cognitive aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Most dementia screening focuses on early impairment, neglecting cognitive changes in healthy aging.
- Few studies examine longitudinal cognitive function shifts in the non-impaired elderly population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze cognitive function changes over time in two distinct cohorts of healthy elderly individuals born more than 15 years apart.
Main Methods:
- Compared neuropsychological test scores of two independent samples of cognitively normal participants recruited between 1991-1997 and 2008-2009.
- Utilized T-tests, stratified by gender, age groups, and education level, to compare mean cognitive scores between samples and age strata.
Main Results:
- The 2008 sample demonstrated significantly higher cognitive scores compared to the 1991 sample.
- Individuals under 80 years old consistently outperformed those 80 and older in both cohorts.
- Participants under 80 in the earlier cohort performed similarly to individuals 80 and older in the later cohort.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive scores in healthy older adults have shown a significant increase over time.
- This improvement may be linked to increased life expectancy and healthy lifespan.
- Findings underscore the need to account for factors that may artificially inflate age-related cognitive differences.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
1.4K
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
1.4K
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
29
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
29
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
400
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
400
01:26Aging
1.1K
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in 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...
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...
1.1K
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
3.6K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
3.6K
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
932
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
932