Psychology

1. Describe cognitive functions that are maintained or improve in late adulthood.
It is common knowledge that the cognitive abilities of a person declines in old age. However, there are some cognitive functions that are maintained or improve in old age. Firstly, recognition memory is not that seriously affected as there are many cues in the environment for remembering. Implicit memory is also little affected in old age as it doesnt require significant mental effort. Similarly, language comprehension is not affected by old age as we are able to remember what we hear or read without significant cognitive effort. (Berk, 2004)

2. What aspects of aging contribute to them
There are many aspects of aging that help them. Firstly, the life experiences of older people help them to make better decisions. They are able to take advantage of their personal experiences. Secondly, older people have wisdom which enhances their ability to reflect on their practical knowledge. Retirement also contributes to the cognitive abilities in late adulthood, as stimulating leisure activities revitalize the brain, which helps in the flow of new ideas. (Thies  Travers, 2001)

3. What processes in brain development contribute to the success of elders efforts to compensate for cognitive declines
As people grow old, their cognitive abilities decline because of the aging of the brain. However, numerous studies have shown that the brain can balance some of the damages. For example, a study showed that the growth of neural fibers remains unaffected by illness in old people. This is done by replacing the degenerated neurons with new synapses. The cerebral cortex also helps in generating new neurons. Another research concluded that another way older people compensate for neuron loss is by using additional brain regions for cognitive processing. Elderly cognitive training programs like ADEPT (Adult Development and Enrichment Project), found that the brains of older people are very agile. In a recent study, they found out that two-third of the participants had been able to improve their cognitive performance only after one hour of training. (Berk, 2004)