Understanding the types of attention
Attention is a complex cognitive function, not a single ability. Its various components are affected differently by the aging process. Divided attention, often referred to as multitasking, is the ability to process two or more simultaneous sources of information or perform two or more tasks at the same time. To fully grasp how it changes with age, it's helpful to compare it with other types of attention.
- Selective attention: The ability to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring irrelevant ones. For example, carrying on a conversation in a noisy restaurant. Research suggests that while older adults may be slower, they are not necessarily worse at selective attention than younger adults.
- Sustained attention: The ability to maintain concentration on a task over an extended period. This can also be referred to as vigilance. For the most part, older adults show relative preservation of performance on vigilance tasks.
- Divided attention: The ability to split one's attention between two or more tasks simultaneously, like talking on the phone while cooking a meal. This is the area of attention most reliably associated with significant age-related declines, particularly for complex tasks.
Why divided attention decreases with age
The decline in multitasking ability is not due to a single cause but is linked to several interrelated factors that change as we get older.
- Decreased processing resources: The 'attentional resources' theory posits that a reduction in mental energy and processing resources occurs with age. In older adults, these limited resources can become overextended when attention must be divided between multiple sources, leading to impaired performance.
- Slower information processing speed: A general slowing of information processing is a common aspect of normal aging. This means it takes longer for older adults to absorb, process, and react to new information, which disproportionately affects tasks that require quick, simultaneous processing.
- Impaired inhibitory control: Some research suggests that a decline in the ability to suppress irrelevant information can contribute to age-related cognitive deficits. This interference can effectively reduce the working memory capacity needed for divided attention tasks.
- Reduced executive function: Executive functions—high-level cognitive processes that include planning, decision-making, and mental flexibility—are known to decline with age and are associated with the frontal lobes of the brain. These functions are critical for flexibly controlling attention and switching between tasks, which is central to divided attention.
- Changes in brain structure: The brain undergoes anatomical changes with age, including decreased volume in the frontal lobes and hippocampus. These are key regions for memory and executive control, and their changes contribute to slower processing and difficulty with divided attention.
Everyday impacts of declining divided attention
The decline in divided attention is not merely a laboratory phenomenon. It has practical consequences for daily functioning, impacting independence and safety.
- Driving: Driving is a prime example of a task requiring constant divided attention. Research has linked divided attention impairments in older adults to an increased risk of automobile accidents.
- Cooking: Simultaneously boiling noodles while preparing a sauce requires monitoring two tasks at once. As divided attention declines, it becomes more challenging to coordinate such activities without error.
- Walking and talking: For older adults, walking often requires more attentional resources for balance and posture, which are automatic for younger people. This leaves fewer resources for a simultaneous cognitive task like conversation, leading to slower walking or less fluid conversation.
- Conversation in noisy settings: While selective attention is relatively stable, the need to filter auditory distraction from different spatial locations can decline with age, making it harder to follow a conversation in a busy room.
Mitigating age-related decline
While some changes are part of normal aging, strategies can be used to compensate and even improve divided attention.
| Strategy | Description | Example Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Training | Engaging in mental exercises that specifically target attention and multitasking abilities. | Practicing dual-task activities like sorting cards while listening to a podcast. |
| Physical Exercise | Aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular fitness, which can enhance neural efficiency and attentional control. | Walking on a treadmill while composing a shopping list or playing a word game. |
| Prioritization | Breaking down complex, simultaneous tasks into smaller, sequential steps to reduce cognitive load. | Focusing on preparing the main dish before starting on the side, rather than attempting both at once. |
| Environment Modification | Adjusting your surroundings to minimize distractions and preserve cognitive resources for the task at hand. | Turning off the television or radio when paying bills or having an important conversation. |
| Mindfulness and Meditation | Training the brain to improve focus and reduce susceptibility to distraction. | Daily meditation sessions or mindfulness exercises to enhance self-regulation of attention. |
Conclusion
Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that divided attention, the ability to effectively multitask, does decrease with age, particularly when tasks are complex or demanding. This is driven by several underlying neurocognitive changes, including a reduction in processing resources, general slowing of information processing, and a decline in executive functions linked to the prefrontal cortex. However, this is not an irreversible condition. By understanding these mechanisms, individuals can proactively employ compensatory strategies like focused cognitive and physical exercises, task prioritization, and environmental modifications to maintain and even improve their multitasking abilities. Recognizing these age-related changes allows for a more realistic approach to everyday activities and fosters continued independence and engagement in later life.
Note: While some attention types, like sustained attention, remain relatively stable with age, the decline in divided attention underscores the need for targeted strategies to preserve cognitive function.
