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CHAPTER 5
Cognitive ageing in

older workers and its impact

on lifelong learning

Antonia Ypsilanti, Ana Vivas

An increasingly ageing population worldwide poses significant challenges in
the employment, social and healthcare sectors. The decline in cognitive
abilities is a natural but feared process that characterises normal ageing.
However, ageing does not affect equally all aspects of cognition, and there is
also great variability among individuals. The mechanisms that affect cognitive
decline in normal ageing are not clearly understood. It is widely accepted that
more research is needed to identify the factors that affect cognitive ageing in
healthy adults, and possible ways to overcome or delay this process.
Moreover, understanding demographic, biological and psychological factors
that underpin cognitive ageing would provide substantial information for
professionals in guidance and counselling to encourage older workers to
engage in lifelong learning. To this end, the purpose of this chapter is twofold:
first it attempts to provide an overview of ongoing research in cognitive ageing
and cognitive training in older adults in relation to various demographic (such
as gender, economic status, educational level), neurobiological (brain
pathology) and psychological factors (premorbid intelligence). Second, it
discusses the cognitive functions related to work efficiency and productivity
as well as ways to maintain or improve them during ageing.

5.1. Introduction

Cognitive ageing differs extensively from individual to individual. Defining
cognitive ageing has been challenging, but most studies agree that it is ʻthe
impact of age itself on cognitionʼ (Deary et al., 2009 p. 2) in healthy individuals,
which is a gradual process that starts from early adulthood (over 25 years of
age). According to Eriksonʼs theory of psychosocial development (1956)
ageing is yet another stage of cognitive development that requires successful