Health, Cognition in Later Life may be Influenced by Critical Life Course Events

Critical life course events and experiences - in both youth and middle adulthood - may contribute to health and cognition in later life, says a new study.

Furthermore, the authors found that the processes of aging linked to cognition and those linked to health should be studied simultaneously, as part of the same set of processes.

Depression - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

There also is an emerging consensus that a multidisciplinary theoretical approach is necessary to understand the nature of the processes of cognitive aging.

"Knowledge of the relationship of aging to health and cognitive function is crucial to the understanding of the linkages between age-related socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, gender, and health disparities," state guest editors Duane F. Alwin, PhD, and Scott M. Hofer, PhD.

Among the issue’s findings:

Adolescent Depression - Causes - Affects - Depressed Teens - Treatment - FAQs
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

For many cognitive abilities, the declines associated with aging do not manifest themselves until after age 75.

High school class rank has a much larger effect than on survival than IQ across the lifespan.

Depression � A Holistic Approach-Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.

The progressive substitution of mechanical power for human physical activity is undermining the physical fitness needed to preserve cognitive function.

Greater social contact and support are associated with better cognitive functioning, whereas greater conflict is associated with lower cognitive unctioning.

Diseases either caused by or associated with aging - particularly vascular changes - play a larger role in age-related cognitive changes than is often acknowledged.

The findings have been published in the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.

Source-ANI