Which mental process is most sensitive to decline with aging?

Short-term memory loss is the mental process most sensitive to decline with aging. This aspect of memory is crucial because it involves the capacity to hold and manipulate a limited amount of information over brief periods. As people age, they often exhibit difficulty in remembering recent events, conversations, or where they placed objects, which can be attributed to the aging brain's changes. Research indicates that the decline in attention and working memory functions, components of short-term memory, becomes more pronounced as one ages.

While decision-making ability, creativity, and intelligence can also show varied changes with age, these processes are often influenced by a person's cumulative experiences and knowledge. Decision-making may remain effective due to accumulated wisdom, while creativity can continue to thrive with life experiences and practice. Intelligence, particularly crystallized intelligence, tends to remain stable or even improve, as it relies on knowledge gained over time. Therefore, short-term memory loss stands out as the cognitive function that is most directly impacted by the aging process, highlighting the importance of this process in daily functioning and cognitive health in older adults.