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Quick Study
COGNITIVE DECLINE
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Thinking abilities drop off, even without dementia.
THE QUESTION How long before death do mental skills begin to decline?
THIS STUDY involved 288 people who did not have dementia and who were followed from age 70 until they died (at the average age of 84). Periodically, they were given standardized tests to assess verbal ability (understanding ideas expressed in words), spatial ability (recognizing the spatial relationships among objects) and perceptual speed (ability to compare figures quickly). On average, verbal skills started an accelerated decline about seven years before death, spatial skills about eight years and perceptual speed about 15 years before death.
WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older people who do not have dementia.
CAVEATS The study did not identify underlying medical conditions (such as heart disease) or lifestyle factors (such as activity level) that might cause what the authors called "terminal decline" that was not due to age alone.
FIND THIS STUDY Aug. 27 online issue of Neurology.
LEARN MORE ABOUT cognitive aspects of aging at http:/
-- Linda Searing
The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.
