CARE FOR THE ELDERLY

WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR MINDS AS WE GET OLDER? (SIGNS OF OLD AGE)

As people age, their bodily systems — including the brain — gradually decline. “Slips of the mind” are associated with getting older. [1] The brain controls many aspects of thinking — remembering, planning and organizing, making decisions, and much more. These cognitive abilities affect how well we do everyday tasks and whether we can live independently. [2]

Due to the gradual decline, some of these functions are impaired.

STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE BRAIN

The presenting changes as a result of the decline reflect changes in the brain structure and chemistry. The overall volume of the brain begins to shrink when we’re in our 30s or 40s, with the rate of shrinkage increasing around age 60. But, the volume loss isn’t uniform throughout the brain — some areas shrink more, and faster, than other areas. The prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus show the biggest losses, which worsen in advanced age.

Our cerebral cortex, the wrinkled outer layer of the brain containing neuron cell bodies, also thins as we age. Cortical thinning follows a pattern similar to volume loss and is especially pronounced in the frontal lobes and parts of the temporal lobes.

The number of connections, or synapses, between brain cells also drops, which can affect learning and memory.[2]