Behavioral slowing and neuropsychological signs in a sample of active older men

The neuropsychological test profiles of older men (62+) enrolled in a continuing education program differed from those of a comparison group of younger men, but fell well within the normal range. These findings ran counter to the assumption that characteristic and easily observed signs of brain dysfunction are a necessary accompaniment of old age. The further finding that the older men also were slower on digit symbol coding, a standard task used to measure behavioral slowing, was contrary to the hypothesis that slowing in the elderly reflects a developmental sequence of central nervous impairment, at least insofar as such impairment can be measured by neuropsychological tests. The good health and active lifestyles of the older sample may have played a role in forestalling neuropsychological signs otherwise seen among individuals their ages.