2025 NCO Cognition Practice Exam – Complete Study Resource

The factor that is commonly associated with the natural aging process is the slowing of responses. As individuals age, physiological changes can lead to a gradual decline in reaction times and processing speeds. This is often observed in various cognitive and motor functions, affecting how quickly an individual can respond to stimuli or perform specific tasks.

While some aspects of intelligence can remain stable or even improve, particularly in areas such as wisdom and experience, the speed at which an individual can access and utilize that intelligence may diminish. This decline in response speed is a typical characteristic of aging and reflects changes in both brain function and physical health.

The other options, while they may relate to aspects of cognitive aging, do not universally apply as directly or significantly as the slowing of responses. For instance, change of personality may occur, but it is not as definitive a physiological change as the slowing of responses. Similarly, while some individuals may experience challenges with long-term memory, it is more complex and varies widely among older adults, and not everyone experiences a significant loss in intelligence.