Changes in neuropsychological functioning in an aging population.

CHAPTER I OverviewThe process of aging has been highly correlated with a level of performance decrement across a number of psychological and behavioral indicators.A decline in the overall structural and neurological integrity of the central nervous system has also been documented.The primary focus of this study will be to investigate the various changes which take place in neuropsychological function in healthy individuals who are 50 years of age and older.Differences and similarities in levels of performance will be determined for two groups of older subjects across a number of subtests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and the Wechsler Memory Scale.Quite often psychologists who are unaware of factors specific to an aging population assume that normative data obtained from young adults can be directly applied to older adults.This procedure can result in the inappropriate classification of well-functioning older adults as dysfunctional due to an age-related performance decrement.It is equally inappropriate to assume that all behavior changes substantially and that all functions decline as a result of aging.Little information currently exists with regard to normative levels of performance on the various Halstead-Reitan Battery subtests for older groups of normal adults.Since this is the most widely used test battery for the assessment of neuropsychological dysfunction, the gathering of this data is necessary so that level of performance standards are available against which to compare the performances of allegedly dysfunctional adults.This investigation will gather preliminary level of performance data for normally functioning, healthy older adults who are able to manage well in the community.The existing literature which is relevant to the areas being considered within the purview of this investigation will subsequently be reviewed.