Recording-2025-02-10T17:29:36.524Z

Age and Cognitive Performance

• Cognitive performance declines with age.

• Peak performance on various cognitive tests occurs around age 50.

• Episodic Memory vs. Semantic Memory:

  • Episodic memory deteriorates faster than semantic memory with age.

  • Vocabulary and factual information (semantics) remain strong up to age 50.

  • Example: Difficulty recalling personal events versus knowing facts like the capital of France.

Memory Improvement Techniques

• Engaging in cognitive games and puzzles can help maintain memory function.

• Games like Wordle, Connections, and Crossword Puzzles are beneficial.

Neurocognitive Disorders

• Neurocognitive disorders are acquired and impact mental functions more severely than age-related memory loss.

• Common disorders include dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

• Alzheimer's Disease:

  • Marked by deficiencies in acetylcholine and formation of neural plaques.

  • Typically begins showing symptoms around age 80.

  • Can progress at different rates for different individuals.

Alzheimer's Disease Overview

• First described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1901.

• Symptoms include memory issues, mood changes, and confusion.

• Autopsy findings include:

  • Plaques: Formed from misfolded beta-amyloid proteins that block cell signaling.

  • Tangles: Comprised of tau protein, obstructing nutrient transport within nerve cells.

• Progressive invasion of brain regions leads to various cognitive declines.

• Current treatments aim to slow the progression, not cure.

Ecological Systems Theory

• Developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner.

• Explores how social environments influence an individual's development:

  • Microsystems: Direct interactions (family, peers, school).

  • Mesosystems: Relationships between microsystems (e.g., parental involvement).

  • Exosystems: Indirect factors (e.g., social services, community).

  • Macrosystems: Cultural ideologies and norms.

  • Chronosystem: Individual’s life stages and experiences.

Attachment Theory

• Attachment is a deep bond between individuals.

• Importance of caregivers for comfort and safety.

Research on Attachment

• Strange Situation Experiment (Mary Ainsworth): Assesses the quality of child-caregiver attachment in stress-inducing scenarios.

• Secure attachment is indicated by:

  • Ability to explore while keeping caregiver in view.

  • Easily soothed when distressed.

• Separation Anxiety:

  • Occurs when a child feels heightened anxiety from being away from their caregiver, requires object permanence.