title: Neuroscience research on aging and implications for counseling psychology.
abstract: The advances in neuroscience have led to an increase in scientific understanding of the aging process, and counseling psychologists can benefit from familiarity with the research on the neuroscience of aging. In this article, we have focused on the cognitive neuroscience of aging, and we describe the progression of healthy aging to Alzheimer's disease, given its high prevalence rate among older adults (Alzheimer's Association, 2013). Common techniques used to study the cognitive neuroscience of aging are explained in regards to measuring age-related changes in the brain and the role of biomarkers in identifying cognitive decline related to Alzheimer's disease. Using this information and in collaboration with cognitive neuroscientists, it is our hope that counseling psychologists may further pursue research areas on aging as well as design appropriate interventions for older individuals who may be experiencing cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, University of Northern Colorado.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC).
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Díaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D035843:Biomedical Research; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D009488:Neurosciences; D011586:Psychology, Clinical