Self-Assessment Quiz and Question

Does intelligence decline as individuals grow old? NO.  Losing one’s mental intellect and independence is among the most feared element of aging.  However, this is not often true. According to Daffner, (2011), he claims that intellectual performance in healthy individuals goes up to old age. At an average, there is minimal decline in intellect and cognition amongst adults below 80 years of age. This has little impact in their overall competence. A more average decline is experienced in the 80s. However the little or no decline is associated with the aged being free from cardiovascular diseases. Having stimulating, flexible and engaging lifestyles at mid-life has also played a major role in cognitive building hence resulting in no decline in intelligence. There has been a development that has enhanced the establishment of unique capacities. Some of these developments include modification of lifestyle interventions which has greatly inhibited intellectual decline. These protective aspects help in reducing the cardiovascular risk. They also help in boosting the aging brain. Therefore it is important to note that with a healthy life, in terms of both physical and mental health, changes in aging brain become minimal. Old people, therefore, can also be regarded as intellectuals.

Peters, (2006), argues that brain size declines with age and this translates to decline in memory and brain activation becomes more mutual for memory tasks. However, this does not always translate to intellectual decline especially with the current higher levels of education and occupational attainment. Biological aging is thus not tied to chronological aging. It is thus possible to slow biological aging and even reduce the rate of intellectual decline and the likelihood of suffering from aging-related diseases including dementia.

 

 

 

References

Daffner, K. R. (2010). Promoting successful cognitive aging: a comprehensive review. Journal of Alzheimer's disease, 19(4), 1101-1122.

Peters, R. (2006). Ageing and the brain. Postgraduate medical journal, 82(964), 84-88.