Cognitive Aging: Opportunities and Challenges in Existing Theories

Abstract

Theoretical understandings of different components of cognitive functioning which are affected by aging have witnessed a significant development in the past few decades. Initial cognitive aging researches were descriptive and they were focused mainly on the identification of different components of intellectual functioning, which affects older adults compared to younger adults. However, mid 1960s’ witnessed a widespread change in the approaches towards understanding the aging mind with an increasing interest to understand the dynamics of specific components of cognitive domains that are categorically affected in the aging process. Rather than focusing on only what changes are taking place, new studies and researches started focusing on the why and how behind the changes in cognitive capacities. The present article provides a brief over view of some of the theories are approaches adopted in cognitive aging research and discusses the opportunities and challenges faced in it.