NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON MEMORY AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN NORMAL HUMAN AGING

Evidence from both neuropsychological and cognitive research suggest that age-related changes in human memory and cognition are multifaceted. Three domains of cognition-cognitive slowing, working memory, and new learning ability-are reviewed. These domains incur prominent declines during the course of human aging. Based on neuropsychological findings, three aspects of biological aging-general neuronal efficacy, frontal lobe function, medial temporal lobe function-are thought to mediate the three respective domains of cognitive changes. It is suggested that these three and other domains of cognition may decline with age, but which and to what extent deficits arise in older individuals is quite variable.