Even Middle-aged Adults Experience Cognitive Decline, Says Study

The increasing lifespan of humans poses significant societal challenges in the years ahead, not the least of which will be providing care for an ever-growing elderly population. Given that poor cognitive status is arguably the single most disabling condition seen in older adults, clinical investigators have long sought to better understand the decline of cognitive function that accompanies the aging process. Although previous research has clearly demonstrated marked cognitive deficits in adults ages 65 and older, the question of precisely when cognitive decline begins remains subject to debate. Now, a new study contends that cognitive decline can be detected in people as young as age 45.