Adult development and aging
As individuals age throughout adulthood there are a variety of memory and cognitive changes which will occur throughout the aging process. There are both normal and abnormal processes which can occur, and a variety of factors or habits that can impact how memory and cognition will change. For example, as individuals age, their speed of processing will decline, meaning they process information more slowly and less efficiently (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). Additionally, there will be a decline in processing resources, meaning adults have less attention to apply to various situations (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). These are both normal changes impacting cognition; however, there are also a variety of changes which will also occur to memory as adults age. It is normal that adults age, there is a significant decline in their working memory, which involves the processes or structures used to hold information, make decisions, solve problems, or learn information (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). Explicit memory will also decline with age (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). However, there are a variety of methods in which one could implement that would lead to better outcomes in regard to memory and cognition. For example, a healthy diet and good nutrition are vital for having a memory which functions well (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). Taking vitamins, like B vitamins 6, 9, or 12 can also aid memory and cognition as adults age (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). These methods are useful to implement, not only to help cognitive process function well into age, but also because they help us to better steward our bodies, which are gifts from God. Scripture asks us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body,” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Because our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, we should steward it well, which means doing what we can to create healthy habits which will help our cognition and memory as we age.
References:
Cavanaugh, J. C., & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2018). Adult development and aging. Cengage Learning.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
