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Cognitive Compensation

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Encyclopedia of Geropsychology

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Synonyms

Cognitive plasticity

Definition

The ability to maintain everyday functioning despite quantifiable age-related decline in cognitive ability (i.e., memory, attention, executive functioning, speed of processing information). Compensation can be achieved in a number of ways, including reliance on pragmatics or experience, strategy use, task modification, cognitive plasticity or growth, and cognitive reserve (i.e., education, activity engagement).

Overview

It is well established that as adults age, they experience decline in various cognitive capacities, including certain types of memory, executive functioning, attention, and processing speed (Schaie 1996; Hultsch et al. 1998). Given the size of these deficits, one might expect that older adults must substantially revise how they complete day-to-day tasks, or require considerable assistance carrying out chores such as managing finances, meal preparation, and taking care of grandchildren. However, the changes in cognitive ability...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, 1570 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Allison A. M. Bielak

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  1. Allison A. M. Bielak
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Correspondence to Allison A. M. Bielak .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Bielak, A.A.M. (2016). Cognitive Compensation. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_277-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_277-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3

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