Multiple Pathways of Cognitive Aging: Motivational and Contextual Influences

The study of aging and cognition has grown exponentially over the past 50 years, developing from a field dominated by experimentally based information-processing traditions to one represented by a more mature approach both conceptually and methodologically. In the past 10 years there has been growth in integrative approaches that incorporate behavioral, neuropsychological, and social information. In addition, there has been a growing recognition of the limitations associated with simple cross-sectional age-group comparisons, along with an increased use of more complex methods. This has resulted in the development of increasingly sophisticated research designs and analytic tools focused on understanding a multitude of potential mediators and moderators of cognitive change. The result has been a move away from negative-views of cognitive aging to one that is more nuanced and sensitive to contextual factors. Multiple Pathways of Cognitive Aging explores the factors associated with adaptive functioning in later life. Its emphasis is on understanding both the factors underlying individual differences in change in cognitive functioning in later life and the nature of the compensatory mechanisms developed by most successful and active middle-aged and older adults. This includes a consideration of motivational factors as a driver of both cognitive change and adaptive functioning. For students and researchers, Multiple Pathways of Cognitive Aging offers valuable insights into the field of cognitive development, along with innovative methodological approaches to help them in their own research.