This volume investigates the complex relationship between the aging process and cognitive function, seeking to identify the mechanisms behind age-related changes in memory, attention, and executive control. Edited by Fergus I. M. Craik and Timothy A. Salthouse, both prominent researchers in cognitive aging, the text synthesizes decades of empirical research. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how biological, psychological, and environmental factors interact to influence mental performance across the adult lifespan.

Experts recognize this handbook as a foundational reference for researchers and graduate students in the fields of psychology and gerontology. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the current state of cognitive aging research.