Cognitive decline and distinction: a new line of fracture in later life?

Abstract

Cognitive decline and dementia have become major concerns for many individuals reaching later life within contemporary Western societies. This fear of decline is central to the social divide between the third age embodying ideals of maintained health, activity and lifestyle choices, and the fourth age, a social imaginary encompassing the irreversible decline associated with ageing. In this article, we explore how brain-training technologies have become successful by relying on tensions between the third and fourth ages. We review current debates on the concepts contained in brain training and examine the emphasis on the moral virtue of ‘training the brain’ in later life as an extension of fitness and health management. We underline the limited consideration given to social positioning within old age itself in the literature. We further argue that using brain-training devices can support a distancing from intimations of dementia; a condition associated with an ‘ageing without agency’. Drawing on Bourdieu, we use the concept of distinction to describe this process of social positioning. We discuss the impact that such ‘technologies of distinction’ can have on people with dementia by ‘othering’ them. We conclude that the issue of distinction within later life, particularly within the field of cognitive decline, is an important aspect of the current culture of active cognitive ageing.

Social connectedness and dementia prevention: Pilot of the APPLE-Tree video-call intervention during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…We have previously described how living with memory problems without dementia may be conceptualised as liminal, between dementia and wellness, and that individuals may experience the burden of responsibility for managing dementia risk, without access to the help that may follow a definitive diagnosis ( Poppe et al, 2020 ). Libert et al (2019) explore individualistic attitudes around dementia prevention. He suggests that adopting lifestyle change for dementia prevention can be viewed as an emotional, as well as practical response to fear of dementia: as emotional distancing from dementia, a condition associated with ‘ageing without agency’.…”

Representations of dementia and their role in social expectations regarding ageing

“…The emphasis on the malleable nature of the process of growing old and self-care (lifestyle) practices as the expression of responsibility for one's own ageing also impacts the perception of dementia as the symbol of the fourth age. Libert et al (2020) discussed the emergence of active cognitive ageing concerning the expansion of the brain-training discourse that highlights the role of risk-management practices in preventing dementia. Cognitive decline is no longer viewed as irreversible and inevitable.…”

“…For example, Lawless et al (2018), in their analysis of the website of a non-profit dementia organisation, revealed that everyone is positioned as at-risk of developing dementia, and lifestyle choices and practices (such as brain training) are presented as responsible, appropriate and necessary responses to this fact. Libert et al (2020Libert et al ( , p. 2585) stated that engagement in those practices allows older people to demonstrate to themselves and others their cognitive health and position themselves away from dementia and the imaginary of 'failed' ageing as the active and responsible 'third agers. '…”

“…Libert et al. (2020, p. 2585) stated that engagement in those practices allows older people to demonstrate to themselves and others their cognitive health and position themselves away from dementia and the imaginary of ‘failed’ ageing as the active and responsible ‘third agers.’…”

“…Libert et al. (2020) discussed the emergence of active cognitive ageing concerning the expansion of the brain‐training discourse that highlights the role of risk‐management practices in preventing dementia. Cognitive decline is no longer viewed as irreversible and inevitable.…”