Changes in Intellectual Functioning Associated with Normal Aging

Declines in IQ scores with advancing age have been observed in each successive revision of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales. This study examined age-related changes on the fourth edition of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and compared these to the effects seen on the 1955, 1981, and 1997 stand...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Archives of clinical neuropsychology Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 681 - 688
Main Authors:	Miller, Lori J., Myers, Allison, Prinzi, Lena, Mittenberg, Wiley
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Oxford University Press 01-11-2009
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Adult. Elderly Age Factors Aged Aged, 80 and over Aging Aging - physiology Biological and medical sciences Developmental psychology Female Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Humans Intelligence Intelligence - physiology Language Tests Male Middle Aged Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry Psychology. Psychophysiology Reference Values Vocabulary WAIS IV Wechsler Scales Intelligence Aging WAIS IV Intellectual deterioration Human Senescence Psychometrics Cognition Intellectual ability Intelligence test Adult Intelligence Scale Wechsler Intelligence quotient
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Summary:	Declines in IQ scores with advancing age have been observed in each successive revision of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales. This study examined age-related changes on the fourth edition of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and compared these to the effects seen on the 1955, 1981, and 1997 standardizations of the scales. The most pronounced declines were in measures of processing speed and nonverbal reasoning. Declines in nonverbal reasoning were similar on timed and un-timed measures. Verbal abilities remained relatively stable across the life span. General intelligence as assessed by the Full Scale IQ was reduced about 1 SD by age 75 when corrections for age were removed. Age-related declines have become less pronounced since 1955, particularly on measures of processing speed. This effect was essentially linear, unrelated to concurrent IQ increases in the general population, and paralleled a 9-year increase in life expectancy during this time period.
Bibliography:	ark:/67375/HXZ-V7247NPC-6 istex:DE3ADC22D779AC1FA0AC1A8FDF5B839D69FD4F8F ArticleID:acp072 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1
ISSN:	0887-6177 1873-5843
DOI:	10.1093/arclin/acp072