Funciones cognitivas en adultos mayores: Una revisión sistemática

Cognitive functions are mental processes that enable individuals to interact with their environment, allowing them to acquire, process, understand, and respond to various situations in order to adapt effectively. As individuals age, these functions tend to decline, depending on multiple factors that influence the degree of deterioration. Several studies have assessed different cognitive processes using neuropsychological instruments, while also identifying risk and protective factors, as well as implementing interventions aimed at maintaining or enhancing these abilities. The objective of this study was to systematically analyze the scientific literature related to cognitive functions in older adults. A total of 108 studies were initially identified, of which 19 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for final analysis. The literature search was conducted across regional and high-impact databases, including SciELO, Redalyc, EBSCO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Web of Science, and SCOPUS. The reviewed studies report that cognitive decline is a multifactorial phenomenon, influenced by biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors. Furthermore, a variety of potential interventions have been documented to support the preservation and enhancement of cognitive functioning.