Developmental Psychology - Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Cognitive Functioning in Older

Adults 

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Cognitive mechanics decline during aging due

to biological and genetic factors. 

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Cognitive pragmatics, which have an

experiential and cultural foundation, do not

decline until individuals become very old. 

Cognitive functioning is a multidimensional

concept. 

SPEED OF PROCESSING.

The speed of processing 

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Cognitive mechanics and cognitive pragmatics

are two components of cognitive functioning

that can change differently with age. 

information declines in late adulthood, but there is

considerable individual variation in this ability. 

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Cognitive mechanics are "hardware" of the

mind that may decline with age due to

biological factors. 

Slow processing speed is correlated with

physical aspects of aging and may predict an

increase in falls and the emergence of

dementia. 

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Cognitive pragmatics are "software" of the

mind that may improve with age due to cultural

factors. 

Accumulated knowledge may compensate for

slower processing speed in older adults. 

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Declines in processing speed, working memory

capacity, and inhibition are among the most likely

factors that contribute to the decline in fluid

mechanics in late adulthood. 

The decline in processing speed is likely due to

a decline in functioning of the brain and central

nervous system, and it is an important indicator

of the ability of older adults to continue to

safely drive a vehicle. 

MULTIDIMENSIONALITY AND MULTIDIRECTIONALITY

COGNITIVE MECHANICS AND COGNITIVE PRAGMATICS.

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Paul 

Impaired visual processing speed predicts an

increase in vehicle crashes in older adults, but

processing speed training can improve driving

frequency and prolong driving. 

ATTENTION. 

Baltes clarified the distinction between those aspects of

the aging mind that show decline and those that remain

stable or even improve: 

Changes in attention are a key aspect of 

Cognitive Mechanics

- these refer to the 

cognitive aging, with older adults having more difficulty

focusing on relevant information and ignoring

distractions compared to younger adults. 

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neurophysiological processes involved in sensory input,

attention, memory, and categorization, which are likely

to decline with age due to biological and health factors. 

Cognitive Pragmatics

- these refer to culture-based skills 

This decline in attention is linked to less effective

functioning in neural networks responsible for

cognitive control, but physical exercise, video game

training, and mindfulness meditation can improve

attention in older adults. 

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such as language comprehension, education, and life

skills, which can continue to improve even in old age

due to their experiential and cultural foundation. 

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Four types of attention are discussed: selective

attention, divided attention, sustained attention,

and executive attention. 

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The distinction between cognitive mechanics

and cognitive pragmatics is similar to the one

between fluid and crystallized intelligence, with

fluid intelligence reflecting cognitive mechanics

and crystallized intelligence reflecting cognitive

pragmatics. 

Older adults typically have more difficulty with

selective attention, divided attention in more

difficult tasks, and complex vigilance tasks. 

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While they may perform as well as younger adults

on simple vigilance tasks, greater variability in

sustained attention may increase their likelihood of

falls. 

Declines in processing speed, working memory

capacity, and inhibition are among the most

likely factors that contribute to the decline in

fluid mechanics in late adulthood. 

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Deficiencies in executive attention have also been

linked to low blood pressure. 

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 Selective Attention

Factors that contribute to the decline in fluid

mechanics in late adulthood include processing

speed, working memory capacity, and

inhibition. 

[1] 

- focuses on relevant information 

while ignoring irrelevant information. Older adults

are less adept than younger adults.