Variability Individual differences in cognitive abilities increase with age. Differences in education, lifestyle, health, etc. 2. There are multiple mental abilities with different aging trajectories. Use it or lose it 4. Senility Severe intellectual and memory losses are NOT part of normal aging.
Cultural stereotypes can affect memory performance.
Younger and older adults in China and U.S. tested on explicit memory tasks. If biology accounts for memory changes, then should be no cross-cultural differences in memory performance. Chinese had more positive attitudes toward aging than U.S. participants. Elder Chinese scored higher on memory tests than U.S. elders. Cultural attitudes toward aging may influence age-related changes in memory performance.