Many believe that cerebral capacity decreases with age as physical strength and quickness decrease. Recent study shows that older brains do better at most cognitive activities. Is this brain alteration or 'wisdom' from years of experience and knowledge?"
The brain's ability to undergo structural and physiological changes, learn, and form new cells to build connections, known as "neuroplasticity," was thought to be higher in children than adults and very low in the elderly.
Research shows that neuroplasticity continues at all ages, but in the elderly, it develops in a very different way than in infancy and adulthood.
The frontal lobes of the brain and their many connections allow older people to think creatively towards the end of life. In other words, the frontal lobe, which controls complex thinking, planning, and operations, continues to develop in older people.
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Over time, diet, education, and medicine have boosted living standards and increased the old population. During this time, studies showed that living environment and neuroplasticity affect brain development. It has been found that various factors affect older brain development. These include genetics, epigenetics, neuroplasticity, environmental variables, behaviours, education, vascular and metabolic illnesses, and stress.
Earlier research on ageing and brain development concentrated on forgetfulness, vision, and hearing loss. The important aspects listed above mean that all of them differ from person to person nowadays. Research also links brain shrinkage in old age to metabolic illnesses, hypertension, and dangerous behaviours like smoking and drinking. However, children with excellent cognitive ability tend to keep them throughout life.
Brain flexibility is the ability to form behaviours that adapt to external settings without structural changes, appraise situations differently, and handle uncommon scenarios. According to studies, the senior brain is flexible and has a comprehensive thinking ability to do cognitive tasks differently than younger people, which they can use in a unique way. Elderly people have evolved cognitive skills for many circumstances. They can execute cognitive activities without using much brain energy this way.
Brain plasticity is the brain's ability to form new connections and change structure throughout learning. Children and adults work harder to develop these skills that the elderly have. The emotional brain's amygdala also undergoes strong remodelling. This suggests that elderly people can be better at cognitive and emotional processes. This competency improves social relationships and empathy.
A study found that dopamine affects the prefrontal cortex, the brain's decision-making, problem-solving, and social skills centre, differently in young and old people. Dopamine declines with age, affecting this location. Older people can complete cognitive activities connected to this brain region when given environmental inputs. They can accomplish this better than kids and adults. Shopping is a complex cognitive exercise that involves comparing product size, price, shape, quality, and reward variables like discounts and giveaways. Many items must be remembered simultaneously. This prevents even advanced robots from doing this. A study found that older people can shop better than young and adult people because they can use other brain areas more actively. However, their weak memory may make this task challenging.
Additionally, brain development and modifications differ by person. Healthy habits including eating, sleeping, and exercising help brain development. Lifestyle diseases, blood-vascular disorders, metabolism damage, and prolonged stress all harm brain growth and neuroplasticity. Thus, it is crucial to develop and maintain good behaviours that will keep the brain healthy throughout life.