Another key element in making the best of our retirement years is maintaining an active mind. While some people develop short-term memory loss and Alzheimer's, the majority can still learn, even memorize. Interestingly, the Bible portrays a number of people who were lucid and vibrant in old age. The idea that the elderly are normally senile is not supported in the Bible nor in data gathered during the last 30 years. Much of what passes for senility results from the fact that many older people are placed in situations where nothing is expected from them.
Some mental processes do slow down with advancing years.
The elderly are more prone to forget where they put things. And they do not memorize as quickly. But this may be because, in part, they don't concentrate on what they view as something trivial. It's also possible that when they try to memorize, their minds are cluttered by worries and cares they find difficult to put aside. Older persons should not panic when they detect these tendencies.