What term best describes the decline in memory performance seen as people age?

The term "cognitive decline" best describes the decline in memory performance as people age. Cognitive decline refers to the gradual decrease in cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, which can occur as part of the aging process. Research in psychology and neuroscience indicates that while some cognitive functions may remain stable or even improve with age, memory performance, particularly in the context of episodic memory (the ability to recall specific events), often diminishes.

Understanding cognitive decline is significant as it encompasses a range of changes that can affect how older adults process information and retrieve memories. This concept aligns with empirical studies that demonstrate differences in memory performance between older and younger individuals, showing that age-related changes in brain structure and function can lead to declines in memory capabilities.

The other terms, such as elaborative rehearsal, mnemonic devices, and encoding failure, represent different aspects of memory processing but do not specifically address the overall trend of decreasing memory performance with age. Elaborative rehearsal is a technique used to enhance memory retention, while mnemonic devices are strategies to aid in memory recall; both are methods to improve memory rather than describe its decline. Encoding failure refers to the inability to sufficiently process information for storage, which can happen at any age and is not specifically tied to