Writing Resources
Alternatively studies suggest that loss e.g death of a loved one can have negative implications for the aging process Rowe Kahn 1987 There also appears to be a use it or lose it phenomenon associated with cognitive function in aging individuals According to Hoare 2011 there is a significant increase in the probability of developing dementia for aging individuals that engage in marked decreases in cognitive activities Despite no use of the word resilience the above studies have captured many of the ingredients often associated with the term From this research it appears that resilience is a trait that is manifested through the sum of numerous factors As a result the degree of resilience is dependent upon the total of the factors involved Rowe Kahn 1987 Finally it is important to note that research finding suggest that genetic factors play a role in resilience According to Charney 2004 behavioral responses including those often associated with resilience can be traced to genetic origins The author further submits that specific regions of the brain neurochemicals and neural mechanisms may play a role in resilience Charney 2004 Aging and Resiliency Unfortunately research on resilience for elder individuals is not only limited but also difficult to generalize to the greater population of aging people
