Emotion and ageing: The importance of emotions for attention, memory and facial recognition in later adulthoodBackground and aim: In this article, emotional ageing refers to how older adults attend to, remember and interpret emotional information. This narrative review synthesises key behavioural and neuroscientific findings on attention, emotional memory, and facial emotion recognition. Design: The review combines classic studies with more recent research to highlight both well-established findings and later developments in ecological validity, emotion regulation and network-based neural analyses. Results: Older adults often show a positivity effect, but this effect is context-dependent and influenced by goals, cognitive resources, instructions and the arousal level of the stimuli. The findings can be understood through socioemotional selectivity theory, the ageing brain model, the selective optimisation with compensation model, and a constructivist perspective. Implications: Emotional ageing is best understood as an interplay between motivation, resources, experience, context and the brain’s network dynamics. This has implications for clinical work with older adults and for future research on everyday functioning, social behaviour and decision-making.
Effectiveness and adaptation of psychological treatment for anxiety in older adults: An umbrella reviewBackground: Anxiety in older adults is a major contributor to reduced quality of life and functional impairment. Psychological treatment is one potential treatment option. This umbrella review summarises recent evidence on the effectiveness of, and adaptations to, psychological treatment for anxiety in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We followed the PRIOR guidelines and searched Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Epistemonikos (1 December 2025). Of 2,966 records identified, 14 review articles were included. The age criterion was adjusted from ≥65 to ≥ 60 years. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using AMSTAR 2 and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Results: Among the most widely studied psychological treatment approaches, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) demonstrates moderate effects on anxiety and improvements in comorbid depression; approximately half of treated patients achieve remission in their primary anxiety disorder at short-term follow-up. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches appear promising, but the available studies are limited by heterogeneity, publication bias and a small number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Trauma-focused approaches may reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, while evidence for psychodynamic therapy is highly uncertain. Evidence for older adults with comorbid mild cognitive impairment and anxiety is lacking. Anxiety treatment for older adults can be adapted by accommodating physical limitations, using cognitive support strategies, and providing extended psychoeducation. Treatment should include a comprehensive assessment to rule out the possibility of anxiety symptoms being secondary to other ailments and conditions common in later life. Conclusion: There is evidence that psychological treatment, particularly CBT, is beneficial for primary anxiety disorders in older adults. Further research is needed into mild cognitive impairment, long-term treatment effects, and adaptation strategies.
Sleep and sleep disorders in older adultsSleep is objectively defined on the basis of measurements of brain activity, eye movements and muscle tension, and is divided into four stages: N1, N2, N3 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Sleep quality declines with age. Significant sleep disturbances are common in people with dementia. Overall, the tendencies to fall asleep and to stay awake are determined by the circadian rhythm, accumulated sleep pressure and behavioural factors. Ample evidence attests to the importance of sleep in terms of health and functioning, and it is now well documented that sleep plays an important role in mental, cardiovascular, brain, and metabolic health as well as in immunological and cognitive functioning. Most sleep disorders can be diagnosed on the basis of subjective measurements. This article focuses on insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea, irregular sleep–wake rhythm disorder, REM sleep behaviour disorder and restless legs syndrome, since these conditions are disproportionately prevalent in older adults. Psychologists should possess the knowledge and skills needed to assess, treat and make adequate referrals regarding sleep disorders that are common in older adults.
Evidence-based psychological practice in the treatment of personality disorders in older adultsPersonality disorders (PDs) in older adults constitute a clinically relevant yet under-recognised area within mental health services. Despite prevalence rates comparable to those found in younger adults, PDs in later life often remain undiagnosed and untreated. At the same time, research is limited, clinical guidelines are scarce, and professional competence within mental health services is insufficient. The aim of this article is to synthesise existing knowledge on PDs in older adults and to clarify the professional prerequisites necessary to ensure equitable and evidence-informed services for this patient group. The discussion is grounded in the principles of evidence-based psychological practice (EBPP) and draws on a narrative literature review, the author’s clinical expertise, and an assessment of relevant guidelines for psychological practice with older adults. The review reveals substantial knowledge gaps in assessment, treatment, patient experiences and service organisation. Based on these findings, four central areas of psychological practice are identified: professional competence, age-sensitive assessment and treatment, interprofessional collaboration, and the patient’s perspective. These areas appear particularly important for developing and strengthening EBPP in the treatment of PDs in older adults, and may inform improvements in clinical practice, training and service development.
The forgetful brain: Patterns of everyday forgetfulness in older adultsThe aim of this study was to examine which types of everyday forgetfulness occur most frequently among older adults, and to what extent such lapses vary according to age, gender, level of education, and self-perceived memory. An electronic Questback questionnaire was completed by 307 participants aged 65 years and older. Participants were recruited through invitations sent to various senior universities. The questionnaire assessed how often they experienced 14 different types of everyday forgetfulness. The results showed that the most common types of forgetfulness were forgetting names (71.9% experienced this weekly) and searching for words (63.7% experienced this weekly). Forgetfulness related to actions, locations, and conversations was reported less frequently. No significant differences were found in overall forgetfulness scores between genders, age groups or educational levels. The findings support previous research suggesting that forgetfulness in older age is most often a reflection of normal ageing rather than a sign of cognitive impairment. Understanding what types of forgetfulness are common in daily life may help reduce unnecessary fear of dementia.
What matters when?: A life-course perspective on cognitive ageing and brain healthWhat does ‘successful’ cognitive ageing actually mean? In the media, isolated phenomena are often highlighted, such as high-functioning individuals with or individuals with early-onset dementia, and specific lifestyle recommendations are frequently presented as key to maintaining cognitive performance. In this article, we discuss what research shows about cognitive ageing, and what is more myth than reality. We summarise current knowledge on how the brain and cognitive functions change across the lifespan, demonstrating that the large differences observed in the ways in which older adults function often reflect stable individual differences established early in life – already during foetal development and throughout childhood and adolescence – just as much as they reflect differences in the ageing process itself. We then examine three persistent claims: that dementia risk can be almost halved through lifestyle changes, that large amounts of sleep are necessary for effective ‘brain cleansing’, and that higher education builds cognitive reserve that protects against age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Finally, we discuss emerging societal trends suggesting that the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia may be decreasing, while cautioning that this development reflects favourable societal conditions that must be maintained. To sustain this positive trend, investment is needed in factors that build cognitive capacity and resilience across the entire lifespan, particularly in the early years of life.
This narrative literature review aimed to investigate factors influencing the identification of ADHD symptoms in girls and women and to propose strategies, developed by the authors based on the reviewed evidence, to address these factors. A search in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science (WoS), limited to 2021 to 2024, using specific terms related to ADHD and gender differences, yielded 1,729 articles. After removing duplicates and irrelevant articles, 60 were reviewed. Three key factors were identified: (a) caregivers, teachers, and health personnel have insufficient knowledge of gender differences in symptom presentation; (b) differential diagnostic challenges and symptoms overlap; and (c) symptom masking. Our recommendations include: (a) incorporating gender-specific symptom descriptions in ADHD assessment guidelines; (b) recognising that ADHD-related functional impairment is not limited to academic underachievement; and (c) the need for developing better tools to identify and assess symptom masking.
This narrative literature review aimed to investigate factors influencing the identification of ADHD symptoms in girls and women and to propose strategies, developed by the authors based on the reviewed evidence, to address these factors. A search in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science (WoS), limited to 2021 to 2024, using specific terms related to ADHD and gender differences, yielded 1,729 articles. After removing duplicates and irrelevant articles, 60 were reviewed. Three key factors were identified: (a) caregivers, teachers, and health personnel have insufficient knowledge of gender differences in symptom presentation; (b) differential diagnostic challenges and symptoms overlap; and (c) symptom masking. Our recommendations include: (a) incorporating gender-specific symptom descriptions in ADHD assessment guidelines; (b) recognising that ADHD-related functional impairment is not limited to academic underachievement; and (c) the need for developing better tools to identify and assess symptom masking.
