**6. Final remarks**

Cognitive changes associated with aging can range from subtle to severe, those related to normal aging are generally mild and do not interfere with the ability to participate in normal daily activities. On the other hand, cognitive pathologies, such as dementia, affect a person's ability to live independently and are overwhelming for the families of affected people. Physical, emotional, and economic pressures can cause great stress to families, and support is required from the health, social, financial, and legal systems [39]. Mild cognitive impairment falls between these extremes. In MCI, cognitive changes are more substantial than those seen in normal aging but not severe enough to cause disability. Both MCI and dementia are pathological conditions, caused by underlying brain disorders or conditions that are not part of the normal aging process [31].

major cause of death and disability, and the rates are rising. The vast majority of older people have chronic conditions, and many have multiple conditions [87]. Mental diseases related to cognitive functioning are in the spotlight, specifically the dementia, considered as a public health priority [39]. The full impact of the pathologies in cognitive aging, mean mild cognitive impairment, or dementia is resonating throughout society. The economic costs of these pathologies impact families, health-care systems, businesses, and social structures. The emotional, psychological, and physical burdens of cognitive pathologies in aging impact individuals, his/her family, as well the formal support networks that provide assistance [83].

From Gerontology, the challenge entails rethinking the life course, to make aging a positive and disability-free individual experience. In this sense, the World Health Organization has proposed as a key element the active aging [88], also called "successful" [89] or "healthy" [90]. In any case, this type of ideal aging requires that the person can maintain an autonomous cognitive ability, which allows the functionality and control of his own life, for which it is

Funded by the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), México. Project: 256589.

\*, Elva Dolores Arias-Merino2

[1] Fernández Ballesteros R, Robine MA, Walker A, Kalache A. Active aging: A global goal. Current Gerontology Geriatrics Research. 2013;**2013**:1-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/

[2] Fernández-Ballesteros R, Moya RM, Iñiguez J, Zamarrón MD. Qué es la psicología de la

[3] Maestú F, Quesney-Molina F, Ortiz-Alonso T, Campo P, Fernández-Lucas A, Amo C, Campo P. Cognición y redes neurales: una nueva perspectiva desde la neuroimagen

, Melina Rodríguez-Díaz1

\*Address all correspondence to: nmendoza\_ruvalcaba@yahoo.com.mx

1 University of Guadalajara CUTONALA, Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico

funcional. Revista de Neurologia. 2003;**37**(10):962-966

,

and Irma Fabiola Díaz-García2

Cognitive Aging

159

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71551

necessary to preserve healthy cognitive functions.

**Acknowledgements**

Neyda Ma Mendoza-Ruvalcaba1

María Elena Flores-Villavicencio2

2 University of Guadalajara CUCS, Mexico

vejez. Madrid: Biblioteca Nueva; 2009

**Author details**

**References**

2013/298012

In the study of the age-associated changes, declines in memory, attention, perception, speed processing, and some executive functions have been reported; however, there is considerable inconsistency in the results. Limitations of the studies should be analyzed in order to identify bias associated with methodology, differences in the assessment tools, and diagnostic and performance criteria. The optimal approach to study the age-related cognitive decline involves the longitudinal examination of population-based aging cohorts [84]. Despite this, researching on cognitive decline in normal aging is very relevant in the gerontology field, due to the possibility that it may represent a less severe but similar process to that in dementia [85]. Moreover, as decline in cognitive functioning and the onset of dementia are associated with older age, the study of social, environmental, and individual risk factors is also needed.

Estimating the burden of the disease and its proportion due to the major risk factors of mild cognitive impairment and dementia allows effective preventive measures to be taken, especially against those risk factors that are modifiable and highly dependent on lifestyles. The cardiovascular and DM2 risk decrease with healthy eating, physical exercise, and therapeutic control. On the other hand, continuous learning that stimulates lifelong cognitive training and leisure activities that represent intellectual challenges can also reduce the risk of cognitive impairment; also, depression symptoms could be successfully treated.

Besides the study of cognitive change in aging, the progress toward the pathologies and risk factors, the field of study of the gerontology involves the challenge to develop effective intervention programs for promoting cognitive health in aging and old age. In this sense, it has largely shown that loss of function in cognitive domains is partly preventable and controllable, since it is susceptible to training through strategies of cognitive stimulation and rehabilitation. Despite the heterogeneity and variety in interventions and outcomes, that limit generalizability, the role of nonpharmacological interventions targeting MCI is promising, and must studies found a benefit with the intervention [86].

Finally, population aging coincides with other converging and interdependent global trends that are shaping our collective future, regarding the epidemiological transitions the past decades have witnessed a major transformation in the profile of diseases that are the principal causes of disability and mortality. Today, chronic, noncommunicable diseases are the major cause of death and disability, and the rates are rising. The vast majority of older people have chronic conditions, and many have multiple conditions [87]. Mental diseases related to cognitive functioning are in the spotlight, specifically the dementia, considered as a public health priority [39]. The full impact of the pathologies in cognitive aging, mean mild cognitive impairment, or dementia is resonating throughout society. The economic costs of these pathologies impact families, health-care systems, businesses, and social structures. The emotional, psychological, and physical burdens of cognitive pathologies in aging impact individuals, his/her family, as well the formal support networks that provide assistance [83].

From Gerontology, the challenge entails rethinking the life course, to make aging a positive and disability-free individual experience. In this sense, the World Health Organization has proposed as a key element the active aging [88], also called "successful" [89] or "healthy" [90]. In any case, this type of ideal aging requires that the person can maintain an autonomous cognitive ability, which allows the functionality and control of his own life, for which it is necessary to preserve healthy cognitive functions.
