Are You Losing Your Edge? 4 Signs of Slowing Processing Speed in Adults
One of the questions we often get is: how do I know if I’m losing my edge? Slowing processing speed is a major concern for adults, because cognitive decline is a scary road to walk. If you’re questioning your brain’s ability to keep up with the world, here are a few things to be on the lookout for that may indicate this is an area you need to focus on.
Cognitive Decline Doesn’t Have to Be the Norm
Cognitive decline, slowing processing speed, memory loss, and changes in how the brain functions are considered “normal” parts of aging… but what if it didn’t have to be that way?
Research has shown that engaging your brain and targeting these skills is a way to slow cognitive decline and keep these skills sharper for longer.* In a research study, adults over 50 experienced:
- Improvements in all cognitive skill areas (including processing speed, memory, logic, attention, etc.)
- Improvements in the rate of cognitive decline in individuals with age-related cognitive impairment
- Changes in brain connectivity (measured by fMRI) correlated with changes in cognitive test scores.
It’s important to realize that there is hope, even if you may feel like it’s “too late.” If you’re serious about wanting to keep your brain sharp as long as possible, you do have options.
Signs of Slowing Processing Speed
There are many ways slowing processing speed can manifest in day-to-day life, but here are 4 of the most common things that we recommend watching for:
#1: While driving, are people “cutting you off” or getting in the way?
While it’s easy to point the finger at everyone else, if it’s happening all the time, maybe you’re the one not processing what’s going on around you as quickly. Slowed reaction times while driving, getting easily overwhelmed in busy situations, or struggling with directions are also key things to watch for.
#2: Trouble keeping up with conversation, especially in larger groups.
If you’re having a conversation, do you struggle to keep up with the flow? If several people are talking and conversations shift, do you find yourself saying “let’s go back to…” because the tide has moved on without you? Click here to read more about conversational signs of cognitive decline and slower processing >>
#3: Struggling with decision-making.
Ever heard of “analysis paralysis”? This is that tendency to get stuck in the data and have trouble settling on a choice. Your brain may be overloaded with all the information you’re trying to sort through, and you struggle to land on a decision.
#4: It feels like too much is on your plate—maybe your workload is the same but your productivity has decreased.
If work feels like it’s moving on without you or you’re suddenly overwhelmed by things you used to be able to manage just fine, it’s a sign that your cognition may be slowing. This is a big deal for many individuals who have advanced their careers—or who are just trying to get by until retirement. Whichever end of the spectrum you find yourself on, staying sharp is so important to maintain vocational performance and avoid feelings of burnout and overwhelm.
What Do You Do About Supporting Processing Speed as an Adult?
It takes discipline and significant loading to improve processing speed. What is loading? It’s adding levels of distraction and multitasking to make foundational skills more automatic. For training processing speed, this forces your brain to switch quickly between tasks.
It’s not just about doing one thing faster: it’s about the brain’s ability to take in information, hold it until you need it, and pivot quickly no matter what is thrown at you. This “switching” ability is what we really lose when we see slowing processing speed.
And that is a skill that’s nearly impossible to do on your own. It takes intense effort and discipline to improve processing speed, but it’s something we work on with clients all the time.
Curious to learn more?
*Results and research based on past clients and studies. Individual outcomes may vary.
