If the different age groups are used to examine their mental cognitive ability such as memory by using flashcards, then the age group between (and including) 21 to 30 will have the most words memorized because according to scientists, the cognitive abilities are at their peak in the early 20s and gradually start to decline after middle age.

Memory and Aging

“When people grow older, changes occur in their bodies, including their brain. They seem to forget certain things like paying a bill, or where they placed items.”

There has been extensive research about the memory processes in different ages in current society due the breakthroughs in modern day technology and experimentations. People have been growing up listening to correlation between memory and age such as grandparents forgetting their glasses, dad forget his keys while the youth need to memorize all of the things they learn in school and also remember their favorite character in games and TV Shows. Therefore, this project investigates the scientific correlation between the memory and age to see if such a relationship actually exists or not and strives to answer:

How Does Age Affect Memory of Human Beings?

Research and Scientists:

Researchers have found that neurons in brains communicate slower when you grow older, meaning that it would take longer to process information, or even try to  learn new things. 

According to National Library of Medicine, as people age their brains shrink in volume, particularly in the frontal cortex. The frontal cortex is where most of the memory is stored, and long-term memory is influenced by the hippocampus in the brain. It has been found the volume of the brain and/or its weight declines with age at a rate of around 5% per decade after age 40 with the actual rate of decline possibly increasing with age particularly over age 70. The brain shrinks due to the neuronal cell death and the decline in the grey matter of the brain. Everyone is born with the set number of neurons but as people grow, they can form many neural pathways (synapses) that increase the function and storge as it takes a shorter time to interpret and analyze, however this activity declines due to medical conditions that may arise with aging such as hypertension, hyperglycemia that increase the chance of stroke and cause white matter lesions. Therefore, if the neuron in the brain dies, they will not be able to regenerate like other cells in the body. Technologies such as MRI and CAT scan help scientists and researchers to pinpoint where the neural activity has declined, and brain tissue is damaged. Memory has been found as a factor that plays a role in the detartrating memory of human beings.

Experiments and Scientists:

Scientists have claimed that younger people seem to have better memories because they can retrieve them in higher definition. The Indian express article further states that Philip Ko of Vanderbilt University in the US, led the research team which focused on visual working memory, a person’s ability to briefly retain a limited amount of visual information in the absence of visual stimuli. Without a visual stimulus, the mind needs to work harder to form pictures of the word and add sensory definition to remember that word well. Kids are just now learning how to explore their world and whatever they come across will be embedded more in their mind due to the recent experience it evokes. Therefore younger people are more likely to retain and store information.

Research Methodology in Personal Investigation:

To incorprate the elements from the experiment done above and to keep everything fair, the reserach would be done to accomodate all ages to test the actual memory capacity of the people.

Manipulated variable: 

Different test subjects from each age group ranging (10-20) to (41-50) will be used to examine the performance of their memory.

Responding variable:

The level of cognitive ability, which can be measured by analyzing the amount of words memorized from the flashcards that are used to test each individual 

Controlled Variables:

Table 1: Controlled variables maintained in the investigation and the protocols to maintaining the controlled variables

1. Determine who will participate: Different test subjects from each age group ranging from (10 to 20) to (41 to 50)

2. Decide how to give the test: The test will be given in person in a quiet setting to the test subjects without anything that could distract them

3. Design the test: 12 Memory flashcards with 1 minute to view them and 1 minute to write down the answers

4. Distribute: Test and supplies are distributed to the test subjects that have consented to participate 

5. Analyze: Grade them to see which age group has the best memory and write the results

Observations:

• In my observations, the majority of the people stated that their strategy to remember words on flashcards was to create a storyline using the words.

• I also noted that the people who were taking the test with friends or family, were discussing their results with each other in a competitive way.

1. I also observed that younger age groups were more eager to take the test than the older people. Additionally, I noticed as the age groups increased, the number of memorized words also increased.
2. I also spotted that the younger age groups were getting distracted easily, while the older age groups were more focused.
3. Before doing the test, I observed that the younger people were more engaged with their phones, and the older people used their phones less frequently. 

1. I found that older people were hesitant to sign the consent form.
2. I perceived that the older people were very anxious to know about their test results, since they wanted to know how their memory is doing.

Analysis 

Table 3: Average Number of Words Memorized by Each Age Group

After conducting the experiment, a trend that is noticed in the results was that as each age group increased, the number of words memorized also increased as seen in the table above.The averages show that the results of the experiment were very different from what the research stated because it said that younger people have better memory than younger people. The reason the average was calculated was so that a clear understanding of which age group had the best memory and what the Raw Data Table displayed. The reason the outliers were not taken out of the average was because even though they made their age group get a lower average, they were part of that age group and it was their result so to reflect what the results  actually showed, the outliers were kept in the average.

The bar graph illustrates the average numbers of words memorized by each age goup represnting the data in more visual format than the table. The red bar represnting the age group Age 41-50 have the highest averge of words memorized and as the age decreased the average numbers of words memorized also direcresaed showcasing that the average number of words memorized and age are directly proprtional.

There were two significant outliers from the data collected as they did not follow the normal trend. While examining my data, two outliers were spotted. One was 30 years old who only had 1 word memorized and one was 17 years who also only had one word memorized. The average words memorized in the 10-20 range was 7 and in the 31-40 range was 8, making the two people outliers. This also impacted their age groups, since it made those age groups get a lower average number of words memorized. 

It is deduced that these findings are not as accurate due to the limitations present in the project. In refrence to the qualitative observations most kids weren't as focused because they were getting distracted easily, or they kept on looking at their parents. On the other hand, the older age groups were much more focused, doing their best to write down the words they memorized. Because the kids were getting distracted easily, it ultimately affected their age group. Since the adults were focused, it made their age groups have a higher average for the words memorized as seen in table 3. Additionally, since the results did not match the references and research done before, more research was conducted. According to Rick O. Gilmore, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, “The more you already know, the more you can remember. Memory capacity is finite, but our brains seem designed to put facts and skills together in meaningful ways.” Additionally he states that, “children's memories differ from adults." This explains the results shown in this investigation becuase adults are prone to holding much more information than children due to their lifestyle making their memory capacity more flexible and easiy recieve and interpret information. For example, adults have to do taxes and have to remember more key details in the day, but kids do not and store all they need to remember on their phones, tablets, etc. As a student, a lot of the resources are present online and are easily accesible therefore reduces the chance of storing analytical information in greater detail in the brain. 

Therfore, the results indicate that age is not the only factor that can affect memory and an increased number of trials will help in reducing the limitations and error presented in the data. Although, the previous refrences don't agree with the results that adults have better memory than the childen, new research showcases that the correlation between age and memory may be directly proprtional rather than invesrely proprtional.

To summarize, in this investigation people ranging in ages from 10 to 20 to 41 to 50 were asked to participate and test out their memory. Subjects were given a test composed of 12 memory flashcards and a 1-minute time limit for seeing and writing down answers. The data was then analyzed to determine which age group has the best memory and document the results. Qualitative observations and quantitative data was collected during the investigation to make relevant conclusions and analysis.The data collected and processed from the investigation does not support my hypothesis which stated that if the different age groups are used to examine their mental cognitive ability such as memory by using flashcards, then the age group between (and including) 21 to 30 will have the most words memorized because according to scientists the cognitive abilities are at their peak in the early 20s and gradually start to decline after middle age. However the data illustrate quite otherwise, subjects belonging to older age groups did better compared to younger age groups. The oldest age group 41-50 had the highest average number of words memorized and the average number of words declined as age groups became younger. Although the previously done research did not support this outcome, further research was done to figure out how the trend could be relevant to modern studies. The research illustrated that age is not the only factor that affects memory and an individual's lifestyle, growth and external influence such as phones can have an impact on both short term and long term memory.

One of the reasons the younger people got lower scores than the older people is because younger people have phones which they can store information on without the need to memorize it, but the older people didn’t have that before, so they needed to remember it. Pshycologists have found that using phones too much can cause memory loss. According to Susan Lehmann, MD, clinical director of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry, "Smartphones hamper our ability to recall things by overwhelming people's mind with distractions. It means that the brains can't remember the information because of all the distractions which makes memories more difficult to form. One of the main parts of the brain that is affected is the hippocampus which is crucial for lomg term memory storage. There are many serious consequences to excessive phone use and one of the main ones being reduced cognitive ability.

The shocking results therefore act like a reminder for the younger generation to consider mental fitness as their top priority by engaging in mental exercises as memory is a crucial asset to each human being. Without memory, it would be impossible to learn or think straight. It also allows individuals to recall and draw upon past events, which is significant in relationship building and social wellbeing. When people build a relationship, they mostly reflect on memories they had together from the past. The social welbeing of the person requires memory because in order for a behavior to be observed and imitated, it must be remembered. Memory is also crucial in the mental and physical well being of the person. Mentally, memory  tells who people are linked to, who people have connected with, and who has associated with them. Memories are crucial to the essence of humanity. Physically, memory is also very important. For example, if people need to have medications at a specific time, but you had poor memory, then you would forget about it. As specified by researchers Nelson, Jacobucci, Grimm, and Zelinski, "Better memory protected against decline in physical health our brains require care and exercise over the course of our life  — especially as we age." There are also many benefits to it, such as it promotes the growth of new brain cells, and it also improves memory, and as explained by, Dr. Jhon N,  "If you dont excercise the brain, your cognitive skills will wane and thinking and memory will become more challenging."

There are many ways for brain exercising. Firsrly, learning a new language engages memorization skills because you have to learn now words and rules as well as recall them. It also recruits different cognitive operations which also helps improve memory. Additionally, active reading and note taking engages the reader with the material to be learned which improves memory and also improves focus. Lastly, crossword puzzles, jigsaw and sudoku improves memory because working on a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells. It also improves mental speed and is an effective way to improve  memory. Puzzles also increase the production of dopamine, a chemical that regulates mood, memory, and concentration. This chemical is released every time when a puzzle is succesfully completed.

Table 4: Sources or error present in the investigation as well as the impacts of the errors on the data collected and future ways to improve them.

Works Cited

“9 Brain Exercises for Mental Sharpness.” Psych Central, 27 Nov. 2023, psychcentral.com/health/brain-exercises#crosswords. Accessed 9 Mar. 2024.

Does. “Education.com.” Education.com, Education.com, 29 Aug. 2013, www.education.com/science-fair/article/does-age-affect-ability-remember/.

Harvard Health Publishing. “How Memory and Thinking Ability Change with Age - Harvard Health.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health, 30 Aug. 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/how-memory-and-thinking-ability-change-with-age.

I. M. Craik, Fergus . Cognitive Aging. 1900. Edited by Denise Park and Nobert Schwarz, 1st Edition ed., New York, Pschycology Press, 31 Oct. 1999.

Mazurek, Adèle, et al. “Effects of Age on a Real-World What-Where-When Memory Task.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 7, no. 74, 18 May 2015, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2015.00074.

“Probing Question: Do Children Have Better Memories than Adults Do? | Penn State University.” Www.psu.edu, www.psu.edu/news/research/story/probing-question-do-children-have-better-memories-adults-do/#:~:text=Rick%20Gilmore%2C%20associate%20professor%20of.

Small, G. W. “What We Need to Know about Age Related Memory Loss.” BMJ, vol. 324, no. 7352, 22 June 2002, pp. 1502–1505, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1123445/, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.324.7352.1502.

Smith, Melinda, et al. “Age-Related Memory Loss.” HelpGuide.org, 2014, www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/age-related-memory-loss.htm.

Peters, Ruth. “Ageing and the Brain.” Postgraduate Medical Journal, vol. 82, no. 964, 1 Feb. 2006, pp. 84–88, https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2005.036665.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/digital-amnesia-excessive-use-of-mobile-phone-could-lead-to-memory-loss-61660#:~:text=Psychologists%20have%20maintained%20for%20long,cause%20memory%20loss%20in%20humans.

“Cognitive Decline Begins in Late 20s, Study Suggests.” ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090320092111.htm#:~:text=FULL%20STORY-. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.

Acknowledgements

While doing this project, I recieved a lot of support and guidance:

I would first like to thank my supervisor, Karen Davis, who answered all my questions about the science fair. She also provided a great deal of support. Your feedback greatly improved my project, making it reach to a higher level.

I would also like to acknowledge all the participants who willlingly decided to be part of my project. Without them, this project would have never even happened! Their support in helping me do my research is greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank Aanchal Saini, my big sister. She helped me improve many things in my project, and she also provided me a lot of knowledge on how the brain works, and how the memory works as well.

In addition, I would like to thank my parents for their wise insight and support. They helped me during many struggles in project. They are always there to help whenever or wherever I need it.

Finally, I would like to thank the Calgary library employees. They helped me round up a lot of people to do my project as well as help me by participating in my research.