The brain controls all aspects of thinking — remembering, planning and organizing, decision-making, and many more. These cognitive abilities affect how well we accomplish everyday tasks and whether we can live independently.

As we age, some negative changes in thinking are common. For example, older adults may:

• Find they have more problems with multitasking;
• Be slower to find words and recall names;
• Experience a mild decrease in the ability to pay attention

Aging may also bring positive cognitive changes. For example, many studies have shown that older adults have more extensive vocabularies and greater knowledge of the depth of meaning of words than younger adults. Older adults can also leverage a lifetime of accumulated knowledge and experiences. Researchers are actively exploring whether and how older adults apply accumulated knowledge, and how the brain changes as a result.

Despite changes in cognition that may come with age, older adults can still do many of the things they have enjoyed their whole lives. Research shows that older adults can still:

• form new memories;
• learn new skills;
• improve vocabulary and language skills

Changes in the Aging Brain
As we get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain:

• certain parts of the brain shrink, especially those important to learning and other complex mental activities;
• in certain brain regions, communication between neurons (nerve cells) may not be as effective as it was when younger;
• blood flow in the brain may decrease;
• inflammation, which occurs when the body responds to an injury or disease, may increase

These changes in the brain can affect mental function, even in healthy older people. For example, some older adults may find that they don’t do as well as younger individuals on complex memory or learning tests. However, if given enough time to learn a new task, they usually perform just as well. Needing that extra time is normal as we age. There is growing evidence that the brain maintains the ability to change and adapt so that people can manage new challenges and tasks as they age.

Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about changes in your thinking and memory. He or she can help you determine whether the changes in your thinking and memory are normal, or whether it could be something else. There are things you can do to help maintain your physical health and that may benefit your cognitive health, too. 

O’Neill Healthcare offers memory support services in our Bay Village, North Olmsted, and North Ridgeville communities. Each memory care community is specially designed to promote our residents’ safety and comfort. All staff are trained to care for individuals with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and memory loss. In addition to supporting residents, our residents’ families will receive support to learn about the disease process and how it will affect their loved ones, as well as coping methods in relation to the stages of cognitive disorders.

For more information about memory support at O’Neill Healthcare, please click here.