Memory Changes as We Age
People often wonder if a memory lapse is age-related or something more serious. “It’s not always a clean divide,” explains Dr. Teng. “Because people live longer than they used to, it’s more challenging to discern between normal and abnormal cognitive aging. Not all memory loss is normal. Progressively worsening memory loss, for example, is not healthy aging.”
Though everyone experiences mind and body aging differently, researchers have found some broad commonalities. Laura Germine, PhD, and her colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital have researched how certain elements of memory and cognition peak at different times of life. Here is an overview of their findings.
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Age-related Stages of Memory
20s
Brain development peaks. You can learn, reason, process, problem-solve, and remember new information as quickly as you’ll ever be able to do.
30s
Learning, processing, reasoning abilities, and thinking speed gradually decline. Working memory—the ability to quickly call up information—peaks.
40s
Cognitive function and memory are generally strong. Subtle changes in your ability to remember new information begin. Reasoning skills slow. The ability to multi-task declines.
50s
Mild forgetfulness sets in. Memory, processing skills, and the ability to learn new information gradually declines. Your ability to recall vocabulary and general knowledge improves.
60s
Memory, processing skills, and other executive functions continue to decline. Comprehension of vocabulary and general knowledge stays stable.
70s
You have more trouble with working memory and information recall. It’s harder to formulate concepts and think abstractly. Risk of dementia rises.
80s
Trouble with both short-term and long-term memory increases. It’s harder to remember everyday words and names. By age 85, nearly one out of three people has Alzheimer’s disease changes in the brain.
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