Two new studies shed both a hopeful light and a cautionary one on brain-related capabilities of the elderly.

First, a study published in Child Development says that senior citizens can be as mentally agile as young adults. And although many seniors take longer to answer a question or offer a response, the main reason is usually that they are more concerned with accuracy than, say, young adults, who answer much faster on average. And accuracy, after all, is important.

This should be seen as good news for anyone concerned about age-related mental deterioration.

However, another study, this one published in the medical journal Neurology, says that about one in four seniors has suffered from a kind of stroke that can lead to memory problems. (more…)