Cognitive Deceleration Cost represents the measurable functional decline and diminished productivity resulting from the progressive slowing of cognitive processing speed and executive function, often associated with biological aging or chronic metabolic stress. This cost is clinically significant, manifesting as reduced mental agility, longer reaction times, and decreased capacity for complex problem-solving, which collectively impair an individual’s quality of life and professional capability. It quantifies the functional impact of compromised neurophysiological efficiency over time.
Origin
The concept arises from chronometric psychology and cognitive neuroscience, where processing speed is a fundamental metric of brain health and a strong predictor of overall cognitive status. The addition of “cost” integrates this neurological decline into a framework of measurable functional and socioeconomic impact. It is deeply intertwined with endocrinology, as hormonal shifts and metabolic health significantly influence neural network efficiency.
Mechanism
Deceleration is fundamentally driven by age-related changes, including demyelination of neural pathways, decreased synaptic density, and reduced cerebral blood flow, all of which impair the speed of signal transmission. Hormonal dysregulation, such as declining thyroid or sex hormone levels, further exacerbates this by reducing neuronal energy metabolism and increasing oxidative stress. The cumulative effect of these neurobiological and endocrine changes is the measurable reduction in the brain’s processing capacity.
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