A recently released study conducted by North Carolina State University showed that an elderly individual's sense of control fluctuates more often and quickly than previously thought, which might affect cognitive abilities.
The study focused on older adults, ranging from 61 to 87 in age, testing each participant's sense of control every 12 hours for 60 days. Participants were asked questions about whether they felt in control of their lives and if they thought they were able to achieve goals they set for themselves.
The study found that the participants' sense of control could fluctuate significantly throughout a single day.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to see how the day-to-day changes in our sense of being in control may actually influence the way we think,” said Dr. Shevaun Neupert, an associate professor of psychology at NCSU and lead author of the study.
Older Americans are more susceptible to conditions that affect cognitive, as well as physical, abilities, which is a reason to secure a life insurance policy to prepare for the future, considering health costs are the top expenses for older citizens.