Is Mental Decline Inevitable With Aging?

No, aging does not invariably result in behavioral deterioration. According to Boulton-Lewis (2010), cognitive functions vary and decline at varying rates in the elderly. This means that, although cognition varies with age, older people should not be generalized or viewed as incapable of learning new knowledge. Furthermore, older adults are normally more persistent and vigilant, which compensates for their cognitive impairment to a larger degree (Kaufman, 2017a).

Furthermore, elderly people with more education have greater verbal processing skills and long-term memory, according to Kaufman (2017c). Besides, neuroplasticity research suggests that people can develop new brain capacities as they age. The training can also improve the mental fitness of the elderly through the exercises and the puzzles (Kaufman, 2017a). Also, according to the research on the aging seniors, the issues of the cognition make people overemphasize on the cognitive deterioration with age rather than having a positive approach (Kaufman, 2017a). In essence, seniors usually retain the knowledge that have been gained in the earlier education and have the ability to learn new things if given an opportunity, which can compensate for the reduced working memory as well as the processing speed (Kaufman, 2017d).

According to Boulton-Lewis (2010), not all elderly persons experience a mental decline, and those that remain mentally active and stable undergo a productive aging, which is influenced by the learning. In essence, continuous education and the life-long learning contribute significantly to developing the wisdom among the elderly. Besides, both the informal and the formal learning practices among the older persons help in keeping their brains active and making them enjoy the various challenges (Boulton-Lewis, 2010). Also, according to a recent neurological research, the mental training among the elderly contribute to boosting their intellectual power, maintaining their mental function as well as reversing their memory decline (Boulton-Lewis, 2010).

Recent research on the neuroplasticity suggests that the cognitive activity can initiate the development of the new neural pathways so as to replace those that have been destroyed (Boulton-Lewis, 2010). Besides, according to Boulton-Lewis (2010), continuous learning helps in keeping older people’s minds active. Thereby, it assists in boosting their problem-solving capability. Involving seniors in creative problem-solving programs also facilitate in improving their information processing speed, developing divergent thinking as well as acquiring the higher levels of mindfulness (Boulton-Lewis, 2010).

It is true that some aspects of the human information processing system decline with age, especially learning, perception, and memory processes. However, such deteriorations are not automatic and depend on an individual’s activity (Boulton-Lewis, 2010). According to the research on the senior leadership, older persons require recognition and need opportunities for sharing their experiences with others (Boulton-Lewis, 2010). They understand that their experiences matter, and that they still have what it takes to influence the younger generation. All that is because they still have a better mental ability as well as an understanding of what is right for the future generation despite their age (Boulton-Lewis, 2010). Additionally, older persons require mental challenge and stimulation as well as an opportunity to dismiss the negative attitudes along with the stereotypes regarding aging that they have internalized throughout their lives (Kaufman, 2017d). The seniors have grown and become older in the societies that are prone to support the controversial notion that when people get older, they begin to deteriorate mentally (Kaufman, 2017c). In essence, a large percentage of seniors still contribute to some of the greatest ideas that drive the current society (Kaufman, 2017c).

The practice of exposing seniors to the mental stimulation and challenge contributes significantly to maintaining their mental capability as well as improving their leadership skills. According to a report, which is focused on defining the long-term learning needs of seniors and how to empower senior learners, what every older person needs to stay mentally fit is mental challenge and stimulation (Kaufman, 2017c). According to the report, enrolling older people in various mental fitness programs has a serious direct effect on improving their memory, changing their attitudes about aging and power as well as improving their confidence (Kaufman, 2017c). Confidence forms a powerful stimulant of one’s abilities, and it helps in strengthening one's mental capacity through the improved mental healing and rapid information processing (Kaufman, 2017b). Besides, the exposure of the seniors to several years of experience helps in training their brains, thus enhancing both their mental and physical well-being (Kaufman, 2017b).

In conclusion, aging does not necessarily lead to mental decline. In fact, as people age, they naturally become older and wiser. One’s intelligence, therefore, does not deteriorate with age. However, anticipating all older persons to attain higher levels of performance may result in stress and the feeling of failure, which does not imply mental decline. Besides, various medical conditions that are common among seniors such as natural aging processes and early Alzheimer’s disease can make daily operations or learning activities among the seniors difficult. However, such conditions affect each person differently and do not relate to a decline in older persons’ mental ability.

Reference

Boulton-Lewis, G. M. (2010). Education and learning for the elderly: Why, how, what. Educational Gerontology, 36(3), 213-228. Doi: 10.1080/03601270903182877. Retrieved on June 26, 2017 from http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/abs/10.1080/03601270903182877#.Ul2d3hYvp24

Kaufman, D. (2017a). Ageism and the Older Learner. Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia.

Kaufman, D. (2017b). Educational Context. Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia.

Kaufman, D. (2017c). Older Adults as Learners. Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia.

Kaufman, D. (2017d). Lecture on Self-Directed Learning. Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia.