From the Guidelines
Executive function declines with natural aging, along with episodic memory.
Key Points
- Episodic memory decline is a well-established aspect of natural aging 1.
- Executive function, which includes skills such as set-shifting, reasoning, problem-solving, and planning, also declines with age 1.
- Attentional control, language, and visuospatial skills can be impaired in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but executive function decline is more closely associated with natural aging 1.
- Research studies have shown that normal aging is accompanied by declines in speed of information processing, executive function, and reasoning 1.
- The preclinical trajectory of cognitive change suggests a long and slow rate of presymptomatic change, followed by a period of acceleration of performance decrement that may begin several years before MCI onset 1.
Relevant Cognitive Domains
- Episodic memory: the ability to learn and retain new information 1.
- Executive function: includes skills such as set-shifting, reasoning, problem-solving, and planning 1.
- Attentional control: includes simple and divided attention 1.
- Language: includes naming, fluency, expressive speech, and comprehension 1.
- Visuospatial skills: includes figure copying and other spatial skills 1.
From the Research
Cognitive Decline with Natural Aging
The cognitive function that declines with natural aging, along with episodic memory, is:
- Executive function, as evidenced by studies that have shown a decline in executive function with age 2, 3, 4
- Other cognitive functions such as attention and processing speed also decline with age, but the evidence suggests that executive function is particularly affected 2, 5
- Procedural memory and semantic memory may not decline at the same rate as episodic memory and executive function, although this can vary depending on the individual and the specific tasks being performed 6, 5
Key Findings
- Executive function and episodic memory decline with age, and this decline can be attributed to the natural aging process rather than to repeated testing or practice 2
- Higher IQ may slow age-related declines in memory, but not in executive function 2
- The decline in executive function with age can explain age-related differences in metamemory regulation and episodic memory performance 3, 4
- Changes in brain structure and function with age are reflected in a corresponding decline in cognitive function, including executive function and episodic memory 6, 5