More recent research indicates that some lifelong cognitive skills may continue to improve with age and some unique abilities may emerge in adulthood.

Intelligence is difficult to measure, however research indicates that older adults experience:

• Decline in fluid intelligence (spatial orientation, abstract reasoning, and speed of perception). Fluid intelligence may be thought of as the inherited ability to think and reason.
• No decline in crystallized intelligence which may be thought of as the knowledge acquired through education and experience such as verbal skills and social judgment, accumulated knowledge, application of skills and problem solving.
• Older adults who are less intellectually active tend to experience declines at younger ages than their more active counterparts.
• Declines have also been reversed by some older adults when they engage in intellectually stimulating activities.

We must be careful when interpreting research in this area as older adults tend to be cautious and thoughtful and may answer questions slowly or give multiple, situation-based answers. Timed test situations and/or anxiety may reduce ability as well.

• Not paying attention
• Interference and/or distractions.
• Stressed, anxious, pressured, or rushed.
• Depression negatively affects motivation, concentration, and perception.
• Loss and grief: overwhelmed and difficult to focus and concentrate.
• Lack of organization in daily life.
• Inactivity: uncommitted and unstructured days provide less incentive to focus and organize your thoughts.

•  Fatigue affects your ability to concentrate and slows down recall process.

• Physical illnesses may cause memory changes. It’s important to check with a physician as many are treatable such as: infections, heart disease, stroke, thyroid, low blood sugar, dehydration. Even diseases such as Alzheimer’s can be treated.

• Medications can make you feel drowsy or confused, slow down recall, and make it difficult to concentrate.

• Vision and hearing problems can make it difficult to have adequate information or provide incorrect information.

• Alcohol can have immediate impact on memory and long-term abuse can cause irreversible memory loss.

• Poor nutrition.

Few things concern people more in the aging process than memory loss. For a host of different reasons many people do have increasing problems with memory as they get older, but there are many ways in which we can exercise our minds so as to make our memory processes work much better

• Association: Create an association between the new information and something you already know. This can be a word or a picture.
• Visualization: Create a picture in your mind of what you want to remember. Both color and silly images are often very helpful.
• Active Observation: Involves thinking about the meaning to you and confirming your desire to remember.
• Self Talk and List: Asking yourself questions like; Did I remember to…?. Making lists is also a standard memory device.
• Change the Environment: Put the things you need to take with you by the front door. Put a rubber band on your wrist to remind you to do something.
• Story: Devise a story that will connect things you want to remember.
• Organize: Organize your thoughts into chunks and/or categories. Ex. When getting ready for a trip; what do I wear as leaving for the trip: what kind of activities will I be doing and what do I like to wear when doing these; sleepwear; toiletries, etc.