Page 143 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

Support the Aging Brain • 127

Reprinted with permission.

20-year-olds and a different group of 70-year-olds. In some
ways, this is like comparing apples to oranges. You don’t
know what educational, economic, or environmental back-
ground the participants experienced as they reached their
present age. Their health and lifestyles may be quite diverse.
The relevance of such tests sometimes is questionable when
discussing the effects of age on cognitive and physical func-
tions of individuals. However, a longitudinal study, in which
specific individuals are tested as they progress in age, yields
a true comparison of aging effects on an individual. Not as
many longitudinal studies are performed as cross-sectional
studies because of the expense and difficulties involved in
tracking and evaluating people through many years.
Another problem with many of the tests administered is
the lack of connection of the tests to real life. Many tests are
abstract in nature. Seeing how many numbers you can
memorize, how quickly you can turn a lever, and so on are
not relevant to a senior’s life. Some experts believe that the