Jijorgetown University Medical Center (USA) has denied a popular point of view that mental ability to deteriorate with age. In fact, two key functions of the brain associated with the ability to perceive new information can be improved by the elderly. This is reported in an article published in the magazine Nature Human Behavior.
researchers studied three separate components of attention and executive function in a group of 702 participants aged 58 to 98 years. Components are a brain network involved in warning, orientation and actuator braking. The warning is characterized by the state of high vigilance and readiness to respond to the incoming information. Orientation includes moving brain resources to a certain place in space. Finally, the actuator braking prevents distracting or controversial information, allowing a person to focus on what is important.
Experts found that only the ability to alert decreased with age, but at the same time improved both orientation and actuator braking. These skills can be improved throughout life, which will allow to compensate for senile damage to neurons. Thus, the results reject the myth of the indispensable worsening of all aspects of intellectual activity with age. However, vigilance is a basic skill that cannot improve over time.