"The book takes on a more important role as being one of the first texts devoted to the neuropsychological processes which underpin the (mostly) decline in human function that accompanies aging. It is an exquisitely and densely packed book which should be recommended on any course, undergraduate or postgraduate, that feels it is germane to either of the title′s nouns. Woodruff–Pak′s text is an excellent introduction to what may become one of the most important new, emerging fields in human neuropsychology. The literature covered is broad, the writing fluent and the organization of material is well–executed."
G. Neil Martin, Middlesex University
List of Figures.
List of Tables.
Acknowledgements.
Part I: Introduction and Overview:.
1. Neuropsychological Approaches to Processes of Aging.
2. Neuropsychological Assessment in Adulthood and Aging.
3. Methods of Assessing the Aging Brain.
Part II: Aging and the Nervous System:.
4. Normal Aging in the Peripheral Nervous System.
5. Normal Aging in the Brain.
6. Neuropsychological Brain Aging.
7. Emotion, Aging and Brain Function.
Part III: Human Behaviour: A Neuropsychological Perspective:.
8. Arousal and Sleep.
9. Response Speed and Timing in Behaviour.
10. Intelligence.
11. Learning and Memory.
12. Language and Communication.
13. Executive Function, Attention and Working Memory.
Part IV: The Future:.
14. Prospects on the Neuropsychology of Aging.
References.
Index.
The author is Professor of Psychology at Temple University and Director of the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center.
The Neuropsychology of Aging is a comprehensive yet concise introduction to what is currently known about the impact of aging on brain function. This book reviews both the current state–of–the art knowledge on cognition and aging and its neurobiological substrates, and methods for assessment and prospects for treatment.
The book begins with an overview of the topic, and reviews neuropsychological, neurobiological, and neuroanatomical assessment of the elderly. The author goes on to discuss aging in the nervous system, including neuropathological brain aging in diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease and Parkinson′s disease. The final section provides neuropsychological perspectives on cognition functions such as attention, learning and memory, and language and communication. The book concludes with a discussion of interventions into neuropsychological processes, and future directions in the field.