ABSTRACT
Aging is associated with normative changes in cognitive ability, with research consistently demonstrating declines in basic cognitive skills, such as processing speed, working memory, executive functioning, and episodic memory (for reviews, see Braver & West, 2008; Luszcz, 2011). Although crystallized intelligence (skills and knowledge gained from experience) is often maintained, the ability to process complex information in novel situations falters in later life. This is clearly an issue if we are concerned with the extent to which older adults can adapt to new situations and continue to function effectively and independently in everyday life. Yet, despite years of strong evidence suggesting that individuals experience cognitive declines with age, most older adults continue to exhibit high levels of competence in their day-to-day functioning. Indeed, one might even think it is surprising that there is not more evidence supporting age-related declines in performance, given existing research (Salthouse, 2012).
