According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, by 2030, 1 in 5 residents will be retirement age. As the senior population over the age of 65 continues to grow through the years, so will age-related cognitive health issues. The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) book “Cognitive Aging” notes that years of research have shown age debilitates cognitive abilities such as attention, memory and visuospatial function. Changes in the brain have actually been shown to begin happening as early as age 20.
1CDC data in a brief on subjective cognitive decline indicated it has become a growing public health issue, with signs of cognitive decline showing up among 11.1% of individuals 45 years of age and older, affecting approximately 1 in 9 adults. The current pandemic has significantly curtailed social interactions which some consider an essential activity for cognitive enrichment particularly in aging populations