Physiological pattern of cognitive aging

The effect of aging on cognition in cognitively healthy adult populations remains poorly investigated. Given that cognition evolves in time and thus, during aging, and becomes eroded in several disorders, some of which have recently acquired biological definitions, it is imperative to understand the process of cognitive aging. To determine the association of aging with cognitive performance in a cognitively healthy population, we studied cognitive performance in population-based cohort of 673 adults (aged 25-89). We found a gradual decline in cognitive performance across the lifespan, which requires two decades to demonstate significant change. This age-related decline was not significantly altered by either gender or education. These findings contribute to understand cognitive aging and provide essential data on physiological cognition for more precise diagnostics and timely intervention of early changes in cognition.