How Thinking Changes with Age: A Look at Men and Women

A recent study looked at how thinking skills change as people get older and how this affects their risk of dying. It focused on men and women aged 55 and up in Zaragoza, Spain. Over 2, 400 people were part of this study. They took tests to measure their thinking skills over 12 years. The results showed that people who had a faster decline in thinking skills had a higher risk of dying. Men and women showed different patterns. For men, those with steady but medium thinking skills had a 36% higher risk of dying compared to those with high and stable skills. Men with declining skills had an even higher risk, 133% more. For women, the pattern was clearer. Those with declining skills had a 133% higher risk, and those with medium skills had a 30% higher risk.The study also found that different things affected men and women's risk of dying. For men, health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and alcohol use were important. For women, things like anxiety, being dependent on others for daily tasks, and marital status mattered more. This study is the first to show that men and women experience changes in thinking skills differently as they age. It suggests that doctors and researchers might need to create specific plans for men and women to help them stay healthy as they get older.