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Aging Brains

06:34

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June 23, 2014

Neuroscientists in Bochum are studying how cognitive skills decline with aging. They have carried out a study with 65 elderly people aimed at developing the profile of an 'average' senior. The participants undergo tests of concentration, memory, haptic response, reaction time, and fine motor skills, among other things.

The results show that the entire brain doesn’t decline in old age, just certain areas do. For example, a 70-year-old may be able to concentrate as well as, or even better than a 20-year-old, but reaction times may be very different. The researchers say their results show that aging has very individual effects on the brain - and may therefore require very individual countermeasures.

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