How Aging Affects Memory

Introduction

Cognitive psychology is a field in psychology that analyzes the internal mental processes.

Cognitive psychology involves the study of how people perceive things and how they remember.

It also involves the study of how people think, speak and solve problems. Cognitive psychology is

different from other fields of psychology in different ways. First, cognitive psychology accepts the

use of scientific ways as a method of investigation.

Second, cognitive psychology recognizes the existence of internal mental processes. Aging and

memory has become a major issue in the society. People have different views on aging and memory.

People argue that aging leads to loose of memory as it affects brain cells and its functions. Also, people

do not know how to prevent the negative effects of aging on brain. This has made it difficulty to

improve memory among elderly people. This paper analyzes how aging affects memory. It also identifies

ways to prevent aging and improve memory.

How Aging affects the memory

Memory refers to the ability of human beings to store information, retain it and retrieve it when needed.

In addition to storing information, human beings store experiences, retain them and later retrieve them
when needed. The memory plays an important role in cognitive psychology. First, the memory helps

human beings store information they have acquired from the outside world. Also, the memory

helps human beings retain and recall the information stored for use.

There are three main stages in formation and retrieval of memory. The first stage is encoding. There are

various processes associated with encoding. That is receiving, storage and processing. The first process is

receiving information from the outside world. After receiving information from the outside worlds, the

information is processes and combined. The second stage in information processing is storage. The

information encoded from the outside world is stored permanently. The third stage is retrieving. This

involves recalling and recollecting the information stored in the memory for use (Sternberg & Mio, 2008).

There are various types of memory. That is sensory memory, short term memory and long term

memory. The memories play different roles. In addition, the memory differ in terms of storage

capacity and storage period .Also, the memories differ in terms of the speed needed to retrieve

information stored in them. Sensory memory stores information received from the outside world. The

memory does not store information permanently. The information stored is further taken to the short

term memory to be processed (Sternberg & Mio, 2008).

Another type of memory is short term memory. The information stored in the short term memory is

mainly stored in form of sounds and images. The information is only stored for a shorter period

before being moved in the long term memory. In long term memory information is stored

permanently according to the meaning and importance (Eysenck & Keane, 2005).
Aging affects the memory as it affects the brain cells responsible for memory. The brain plays an

important role in cognitive functions like memory. There are certain parts of the brain that are

responsible for memory. The cells release chemicals that send signals from one part of the brain to

another. This makes it easy for people to recall things. The memory is also affected when the production

of the neurotransmitters declines. The production of neurotransmitters declines as one ages. For

example, old people experience memory loose more than young people. This is because the

production of neurotransmitters in old people is not effective like in young people. This hinders

signals from being transferred from one part of the brain to another.

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that allow the cells in the brain to communicate and

perform various cognitive functions like memory. Studies have shown that people tend to produce

low amounts of neurotransmitters as they age and this affects different types of memories. It also

affects memory functions like recalling. People having low amounts of neurotransmitters find it difficulty

to recall things. This is because the brain cells are not communicating (Eysenck & Keane, 2005).

Moreover, the breakdowns of the neurotransmitters is affected as people grow older. This reduces

the supply of neurotransmitters to the brain. Hence, this affects memory function. In other cases it can

lead to loss of memory completely. The brain cannot work well without enough supply of the

chemicals. Some of the neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s affect the brain and its functions. For

example, Alzheimer has led to reduced levels of neurotransmitters. This has affected the brain functions

negatively. Patients having Alzheimer experience memory loose as the chemical production in the

brain is affected (Eysenck & Keane, 2005).

Further aging affects the brain as it reduces the amount of blood flowing to the brain. The flow of

the blood to the brain cells decreases as we grow older. This is because the circulation systems

becomes inefficient as people get older and affects the circulation of blood in the body. For

example, it can affect the flow of the blood to the brain cells. This in turn affects brain functions like

memory. Thus, aging affects memory negatively. In addition, infections and problems experienced by

elderly people like clogged arteries affect the brain functions. Clogged arteries affect the flow of blood to

the heart and brain. This hinders the brain from functioning properly. Plague in the brain has also

affected brain functions like memory.

Plagues reduce the cerebral blood flow and affect brain functions. The brain depends on oxygen and

nutrients to carry out its functions. The brain consumes the largest percentage of oxygen in the brain.

Decrease in the amount of oxygen affects short term memory and long term memory. Thus, this affects

the functions of the memories. Decrease in the amount of oxygen in the body affects concentration and

focus. This makes it difficulty for older people to recall things. The brain cells are worn out as one ages.

The cells are worn out and fail to transmit chemicals in the brain. This affects brain activities (Balota

&Marsh, 2004).

There are several methods that can one can use to overcome the negative effects of aging on

memory. First, one should carry out exercise regularly to improve the flow of blood in the body.

Exercise plays an important role in keeping the body and the brain healthy. Elderly people are supposed

to carry out exercise frequently so as to help them overcome aging. This in turn helps enhance the

functionality of the brain (Balota &Marsh, 2004).

Apart from exercising, one should take the right diet and nutrition. The kind of food one feeds on

affects the functioning of the brain negatively or positively. For example, people who take more

vitamins and minerals .Vitamins help in production of neurotransmitters in the brain. This in turn

improves memory processes like recalling. Lack of vitamins and proper diet affects the production

of neurotransmitters. This hinders memory processes. Additionally one can get supplements from

the hospitals to help improve brain functions. For example, supplements like Huperzine A help

prevent destruction of neurotransmitters in the brain. It also helps protect the nerve cells from

destruction. The supplements, exercise and proper diets helps combat aging and this prevents

aging from affecting memory activities (Solso, Maclin & Maclin, 2008).

The topic how aging affects memory is relevant to the field of cognitive psychology. This is

because the topic helps people understand how aging and memory are related. It helps people

understand how aging affects memory negatively resulting to memory loose. This has helped

overcome the issues facing elderly people like aging and memory. It also helps people understand

how to prevent aging and improve memory (Solso, Maclin & Maclin, 2008).

Conclusion

Aging has become a major issue in the society. This is because aging has a negative impact on memory.

Aging affects memory in different ways. For example, aging leads to reduced circulation of blood in the

body and brain. This affects the brain functions like memory. Also, plagues affects the flow of blood in
the brain and hinder memory activities. In addition, aging affects the production of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters help transport signals from one part of the bran to another.

Reduction in production of neurotransmitters affects the transfer of signals in the brain and hence

memory functions. It affects the short term, long term and sensory memory. Exercise, poor diet and

nutrition can help prevent aging and improve memory. This is because they stimulate production of

neurotransmitters in the body. They also increase blood flow. Also, supplements can help improve the

flow of blood and production of neurotransmitters.

Reference

Balota, D.A., &Marsh, E.J. (2004).Cognitive psychology: key readings. Psychology Press

Eysenck, M.W.,Keane, M.T. (2005).Cognitive psychology: a student's handbook. Psychology Press

Solso, R.L., Maclin, O.H., Maclin, M.K. (2008). Cognitive psychology (8th ed). Boston: Allyn & Bacon

Sternberg, R.J., &Mio, J. (2008).Cognitive psychology. Cengage Learning