Older Adults are 'Morning People': Study Confirms Better Cognitive Performance Early in the Day

Health science can now explain why older individuals are early risers. 

Quite simply, the elderly have better cognitive abilities and attention spans in the morning, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences and the University of Toronto.

"Time of day really does matter when testing older adults. This age group is more focused and better able to ignore distraction in the morning than in the afternoon," said lead study author John Anderson, a Ph.D. candidate with the university, in a news release. "Their improved cognitive performance in the morning correlated with greater activation of the brain's attentional control regions - the rostral prefrontal and superior parietal cortex - similar to that of younger adults."

For the study, researchers recruited 16 younger adults (aged 19-30) and 16 older adults (aged 60-82) in order to evaluate their memory based on a series of tests throughout different times of the day. All of the tests involved both studying and recalling a series of pictures and word combinations that flashed on a computer screen. Irrelevant words were linked to certain pictures and vice versa. 

Throughout the testing period from 1-5 p.m., researchers also monitored brain activity via an fMRI that allowed them to detect which areas of the brain were activated throughout the study. 

Findings revealed that about 10 percent of the adult participants were more likely to notice the distracting information than the younger participants who could block it out. However, study results also revealed that older individuals who were tested at later times in the afternoon were more likely to struggle with "idling" or trouble focusing their attention during the study.

Switch the times towards the morning, and the results were much different. After the initial findings, researchers tested 18 older individuals between 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Findings showed that they performed noticeably better, with fewer overall distractions. Older adults tested in the morning also activated the same brain areas as younger adults participating in the study.

The provide information on how circadian patterns may influence attention span and overall function, throughout the day and particularly for older individuals. However, researchers caution that the findings may not be entirely accurate.

"Since older adults tend to be morning-type people, ignoring time of day when testing them on some tasks may create an inaccurate picture of age differences in brain function," concluded Dr. Hasher, a senior scientist at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Psychology and Aging.