Many people often assume that old age is generally an unhappy stage in life. It is also assumed that mental ability inevitably decline with age. Does the research support these beliefs? Provide specific research findings to support your argument

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
? Some cognitive abilities, such as fluid intelligence, episodic memory, and work-memory decline with age, but many other cognitive abilities remain fairly stable in healthy adults.
? Healthy older adults are no more likely to become depressed than younger people.
? Older Americans tend to be more optimistic than young adults and adolescents.
? Emotional well-being tends to increase as people get older, with negative emotions declining with age while positive emotions increase in frequency.