The decline of the attention in the oldness

(This image is taken from the site: http://besport.org/sportmedicina/forza_anziani.htm).

Elderly people suffer a drop of attention from different points of view. It occurs in particular a reduction of selective attention (Sbattella, 2015). This type of attention has the function to select the input information, eliminating the irrelevant. Studies have shown that older people take longer for young people in the tasks of visual and auditory selecting (Robin and Rizzo, 1992).

There is also a divided attention, which is to conduct several tasks simultaneously. The results of some investigations show a decrease of divided attention for complex tasks in which it is relevant the working memory (Brouwer, 1991).

A third aspect is sustained attention, which is to keep the focus on a given task. Also in this case the provision of the elderly suffers a decrease in relation to age.

The effect of decreased attention may be restricted from learning behaviors that are automated with the habit. The elderly people are in degrees to learn such behaviors as long to have the necessary time (Fisk, Rogers, 1991).

These studies are useful in order to understand how to interact with elderly people and provide useful support (Sbattella, 2015).