A comprehensive study of cognitive control in healthy aging
Sarah De Pue1, Hans Stuyck2, Céline R Gillebert2
1Brain & Cognition, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. sarah.depue@kuleuven.be.
Communications Medicine
|November 25, 2025
Summary
Cognitive control in aging shows mixed results: response inhibition and interference control improve, while updating and shifting decline. Proactive control remains stable, highlighting varied aging trajectories for cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive control declines impact older adults' daily lives.
- Existing research often overlooks the heterogeneity of cognitive control subcomponents in aging.
- A comprehensive overview of cognitive control subcomponent development across the lifespan is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of cognitive control in aging.
- To investigate multiple subcomponents of cognitive control across different age cohorts.
- To address limitations of previous research focusing on homogenous age groups or single subcomponents.
Main Methods:
- A large sample including young adults (N=75) and older adults (N=231) across three cohorts.
- An extensive test battery assessing response inhibition, interference control, updating, shifting, and proactive/reactive control.
- Statistical analysis using linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- Older adults demonstrated improved response inhibition and interference control compared to young adults.
- Updating and shifting abilities showed a decrease with advancing age.
- Proactive control functions were preserved in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive control subcomponents exhibit distinct onsets and developmental trajectories during aging.
- Aging impacts cognitive control functions differentially, with some declining and others being preserved or enhanced.
- Future longitudinal studies are recommended to understand inter- and intra-individual changes in cognitive control subcomponents over time.
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