Collection Occupational hygiene, Issue 31, 2000 year

Aging and Mental Speed in Older Persons

L.A. Polyakov, T.A. Zholos

doi

Institute of Gerontology, Kiev

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Mental activity was studied in 80 people aged 20 to 74 years. It has been established that the dynamics of information processing has a rhythmic character. At the same time, the variability in the solution of test problems increases with age. Various modes of activity have been tested: free, imposed and interactive,

The experiment revealed age-related differences in the dynamics of mental performance, namely, low speed, low reliability and high fatigue in older people. It was found that only 15% of the surveyed people were able to work in a mode of pronounced time deficit. The mode of work, taking into account the age-related decrease in the speed of mental activity, can play the role of an “external modulator” that increases the efficiency and reliability of mental activity for older people.

Key words: aging, psychomotor skills, reaction speed, mental activity, modes of work.

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