Cognitive changes in old age: how to know that we are aging normally and how to age successfully

Abstract

Physiological aging is associated with some loss of cognitive function, which however does not lead to self-insufficiency, but may still have consequences for complex activities of daily living. In the review paper we characterize these changes in cognition, we present the possibilities of differentiating physiological and pathological aging due to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, and we summarize the possibilities of prevention of pathological aging and cognitive decline in old age.

Keywords

• aging
• cognition
• memory
• Alzheimer's disease
• risk factors
• cognitive reserve