Impact of Age on Memory Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Age on Memory. Answer: Post There exists a strong correlation between ageing and the rate of cognitive decline. In this context, cognition refers to the ability of the human mind to process and utilize outside information. However, a number of complications are related to ageing such as malfunctioning of the neurons, slow or decreased rate of neuronal transmission. This may be due to loss of synapses, which could be correlated to degeneration of nerves (Slavin et al. 2015). Thus, such a condition often develops into dementia, which is associated with decreased memory or power of recollection (Salthouse, 2009). The cognitive abilities may be divided into several specific divisions such as memory, intellect, language and visual processing is some of the few. Moreover, as asserted by salthouse (2009), the cognitive decline in ageing could be related to a number of co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, bipolar disorder. As commented by Murman (2015), the gradual decrease has been noticed in the processing speed, the problem-solving ability of patients receiving treatment for bipolar and hypertension. The medicines have been found to affect the normal alertness and processing capacity of the mind (Salthouse, 2009). Studies and sufficient however argues, that the ability to recall or process complex information (working memory) declines with age (Salthouse, 2009). Response The working memory has been known to control a series of operations such as recollection, attention, problem solving and decision-making. The working memory helps in striking a balance between the activities of daily life. As commented by Salthouse (2009), gradual degeneration is noticed in the grey and the white matter areas in case of dementia. This has been supported by structural brain mapping and imaging using techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). It has shown that there is a gradual decrease in the size of the brain with age. As suggested by Riddle (2007), the pre-frontal lobe is known as the working memory of the brain. Thus, structural changes in the working memory affect the power of attention in the old age. The theories reported over here have been found to be consistent with the brain scan and images, which has shown neuronal loss or changes brought about in the pre-fontal lobe of the brain to be associated with impaired speech and memory. However, as argued by Salthouse (2009), loss in concentration could be attributed to the processing of multiple stimuli at the same time.The activities such as perception, decision-making or problem solving could be grouped under a single processing domain. This has been supported by Villemagne et al. (2013), which states that different areas of the cerebro cortex are affected differently by the presence of some of the co-morbid conditions. As commented by Sheikh et al. (2012), the presence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's may result in the shrinkage of the grey matter, which affects the decision-making process. On the contrary, as argued by Murman (2015), certain aspects of the working memory are well maintained through old age. This further raises the question to the aspect of ageing and associated cognitive decline. Additionally , the occurrence of the neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be related to oxidative stress and other environmental conditions. Further studies have revealed that oxidative stress and misfolding of proteins are responsible for the degeneration of memory (Salthouse, 2009). References Murman, D. L. (2015). The impact of age on cognition. InSeminars in hearing(Vol. 36, No. 03, pp. 111-121). Australia: Thieme Medical Publishers. Riddle, D. R. (Ed.). (2007).Brain ageing: models, methods, and mechanisms. London: CRC Press. Salthouse, T. A. (2009). When does age-related cognitive decline begin?Neurobiology of Aging,30(4), 507514. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.09.023 [Dated 29 July 2017] Sheikh, S., Haque, E., Mir, S. S. (2012). Neurodegenerative diseases: multifactorial conformational diseases and their therapeutic interventions.Journal of neurodegenerative diseases,2013. Slavin, M. J., Sachdev, P. S., Kochan, N. A., Woolf, C., Crawford, J. D., Giskes, K., ... Brodaty, H. (2015). Predicting cognitive, functional, and diagnostic change over 4 years using baseline subjective cognitive complaints in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,23(9), 906-914. Villemagne, V. L., Burnham, S., Bourgeat, P., Brown, B., Ellis, K. A., Salvado, O., ... Ames, D. (2013). Amyloid deposition, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in sporadic Alzheimer's disease: a prospective cohort study.The Lancet Neurology,12(4), 357-36