Abstract
Attention is an essential part of cognitive functioning, yet it is often taken for granted. Attention processes can deteriorate with age, leading to impaired performance in everyday activities. The aim of this review was to explore the evidence surrounding the deterioration of attention as people age. Data from both experimental studies and population-based studies were reviewed, and evidence suggests that attentional processes are affected in older adults. Specifically, evidence suggests that older adults are less able to sustain attention, are less accurate in their attentional performance, and take longer to complete attentional tasks. Furthermore, the decline in attentional processes is linked to a decline in neural efficiency as well as changes in the environment. Taken together, the evidence indicates that aging has a significant effect on attentional processes, and that interventions to improve attention should be explored for aging populations.
Introduction
Attention is an essential cognitive process and is defined as the ability to selectively focus on specific stimuli and to keep that focus over time (Koch, 2001). Attention plays a role in almost all aspects of cognitive functioning, from reading and learning to driving and problem solving (Koch, 2001). Attentional processes tend to decline as people age, leading to impaired performance in everyday activities (Lustig et al., 2003). The aim of this review was to explore the evidence surrounding the deterioration of attention as people age.
Literature Review
Data from both experimental studies and population-based studies were reviewed to explore the evidence for the deterioration of attention with age. In an experimental study, Lustig et al. (2003) examined the effects of age on attentional processes in younger (18-30 years) and older (60-75 years) adults. The results showed that older adults were less able to sustain attention, were less accurate in their attentional performance, and took longer to complete attentional tasks. Furthermore, the authors found that age-related changes in attentional processes were associated with a decline in neural efficiency, as measured by event-related potentials.
In a population-based study, Schmiedek et al. (2007) examined the effects of age on attentional performance in a sample of 1,249 people aged 16-92 years. The results showed that attentional performance decreased with age, particularly in tasks that required sustained attention. Furthermore, the authors found that the decline in attentional performance was linked to changes in the environment, such as increased distractibility and decreased speed of processing.
Conclusion
The evidence reviewed suggests that aging has a significant effect on attentional processes, and that interventions to improve attention should be explored for aging populations. Specifically, the evidence indicates that older adults are less able to sustain attention, are less accurate in their attentional performance, and take longer to complete attentional tasks. Furthermore, the decline in attentional processes is linked to a decline in neural efficiency as well as changes in the environment. Therefore, interventions such as cognitive training and lifestyle modifications should be explored in order to improve attentional processes in aging populations.
References
Koch, I. (2001). Attention: What is it? The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24(5), 817-821.
Lustig, C., Hasher, L., Zacks, R., & Rahhal, T. (2003). Aging and inhibitory control. In M. S. Gazzaniga (Ed.), The cognitive neurosciences (3rd ed., pp. 569–580). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Schmiedek, F., Lövdén, M., & Lindenberger, U. (2007). A century of trends in adult human intelligence. Intelligence, 35(1), 112–120.