Aging and Cognitive Regression: Contrary Findings

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Abstract
Seventeen elderly men and women and 31 male and female college students were assessed and compared on a variety of Piagetian conservation tasks. Findings obtained did not support the hypothesis that cognitive regression takes place as a part of normal aging. Findings were also compared with those of earlier studies utilizing similar tasks with elderly and college-aged Ss, and the contrary outcome of the present study was discussed in relation to the importance of (a) defining normal aging, (b) actual assessment on the same tasks of other age groups to be compared with the elderly group, and (c) potential effects of the assessment situation itself on older persons' performances.