title: Contributions of the Individual Differences Approach to Cognitive Aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review selected research in cognitive aging incorporating an individual differences approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three contributions of the individual differences perspective in cognitive aging are illustrated with data from the Virginia Cognitive Aging Project.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research capitalizing on the variability among individuals has been used to: (a) improve sensitivity and validity of measurement of cognitive functioning, and evaluate possible age differences in the meaning of the measures; (b) investigate relations between age and individual cognitive measures in the context of other types of cognitive measures; and (c) examine the degree to which age-related influences on target measures are statistically independent of age-related influences on other cognitive measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the primary focus of much of the research in cognitive aging has been on mean differences between people of different ages, people differ in many respects besides age. A fundamental assumption of the individual differences perspective is that at least some of those differences may be informative about the nature, and causes, of the relations between age and cognitive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville. salthouse@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Salthouse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001076:Aptitude; D000066492:Cognitive Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007361:Intelligence Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognition; Intellectual functioning; Measurement; Research methods and issues