Intellectual Changes during Maturity and Old Age

Abstract

SINCE THE LAST REVIEW of this topic, most of the references in this area of study have been concerned with the results of intelligence tests in psychosis. Generally, the estimation of intellectual deterioration in abnormal states implies a correction for changes in score and in quality of intellectual performance as a function of age. The accumulation of evidence concerning intellectual changes in maturity and old age definitely indicates that as people grow older their test performances change. It is clear that intellectual changes as a function of age create problems concerning the interpretation of adult scores and adult intelligence quotients; the relationship of previous education, experiences, and skills to measurement of adult intelligence; the factorial composition of adult intelligence tests; the relationship of intelligence test scores in childhood and youth to such measures in adult populations; and the standardization and norming of adult intelligence tests. Perhaps the most significant new development is the demonstration that qualitative aspect of intellectual performance is fully as important as quantitative variations.