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CHAPTER 5
Cognitive ageing in older workers and its impact on lifelong learning 91

resolution of conflicts that all adults encounter throughout their life spans. In
middle adulthood (ages 35 to 65) most people face challenges of creativity
and generativity in their personal and professional environments. Successful
ageing entails a sense of productivity, achievement and contribution to society
and future generations.
Determinants of individual variability in cognitive ageing are not fully
understood. However, progress has been made over past decades to
understand the most significant factors that affect cognitive ageing. Some
involve inherited genes, neurobiological changes, general medical condition,
socioeconomic and educational background, dieting and lifestyle. To
complicate matters further, researchers have not been able to identify fully the
characteristics of normal ageing as opposed to mild cognitive impairment in
ageing. Indeed, most researchers agree that healthy cognitive ageing and
dementia form a continuum rather than two distinct phenomena (Deary et al.,
2009). A crucial question to be answered is what are the features that predict
the transition from mild cognitive impairment to dementia (Rinne and Någren,
2009). Although, in recent years, use of technologically-advanced
neuroimaging techniques has greatly increased our understanding of the brain
changes that accompany normal ageing, the functional significance of these
changes is not clear.
The importance of studying cognitive ageing stems from two basic facts.
First, an ageing population worldwide causes important economic and health
challenges to society, directly linked to prolonged life expectancy. Second, the
cognitive decline associated with normal ageing may disrupt the quality of life
of older adults in their personal and professional environments. Although
research on cognitive ageing has been fruitful, there are significant differences
in results and conclusions in studies. These differences stem from
methodological discrepancies in design, sampling, analyses and focus in
terms of tasks examined.
Professionals in guidance and counselling should consider age-related
changes when advising older workers to avoid job-related stress and early
retirement. Supporting longer working lives through counselling increases the
likelihood of engaging in lifelong learning, updating and renewing skills and
adapting to new working conditions. To provide better counselling and
guidance services it is essential to understand the needs and abilities of older
workers from a cognitive perspective. Specifically, understanding the
processes of normal ageing and the changes, if any, in cognitive functions of
older workers should increase involvement of workers and employers in
lifelong learning.