Age-Related Declines in Social Cognition: Neuropsychological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology Vol.7 Issue.4

Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.25.4.12

REVIEW ARTICLE /  DERLEME YAZISI

Age-Related Declines in Social Cognition: Neuropsychological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Yaşla İlişkili Sosyal Bilişsel Gerilemeler Nöropsikolojik Mekanizmalar ve Klinik Yansımalar

Özlem Önder¹

Abstract:

As the global shift toward an aging population accelerates, understanding the cognitive changes associated with aging—particularly those implicated in social cognition—has become a central focus in contemporary neuroscience and geriatric neurology. This review synthesizes current evidence on the neural bases of age-related alterations in empathy, emotion recognition, Theory of Mind (ToM), and social decision-making. Structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex (including orbitofrontal and ventromedial sectors), amygdala, insula, and temporoparietal junction interact with large-scale network dynamics involving the default mode, salience, and frontostriatal circuits. Converging data suggest that both affective and cognitive empathy show modest but reliable declines with age, accompanied by reduced accuracy for negative emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness. ToM—critical for inferring beliefs and intentions—also weakens, particularly under higher executive demands. Social decision-making is frequently altered, with shifts in risk evaluation, reward sensitivity, and moral judgment that parallel degenerative or dysconnective changes in prefrontal and orbitofrontal systems. Putative mechanisms include dopaminergic and oxytocinergic modulation, vascular and inflammatory burden, white-matter microstructural degradation, and reduced inter-network efficiency. Clinically, incorporating targeted social-cognition measures into neuropsychological assessments can improve early detection of subtle decline, refine differential diagnosis, and inform person-centered care planning. We highlight priorities for future research: longitudinal, multimodal designs; culturally sensitive, ecologically valid tasks; harmonized norms across the older-adult lifespan; and interventional trials leveraging cognitive training, social engagement, and neuromodulatory approaches. Clarifying how aging reshapes the neural architecture of social cognition will be essential for preserving social functioning and quality of life in older adults.

Keywords: Social cognition, Aging, Empathy, Emotion recognition, Theory of Mind, Decision-making, Cognitive decline

¹Assist. Prof. Dr., Near East University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Nicosia, TRN Cyprus, E-mail: [email protected], Orcid Id: 0000-0002-7133-9808

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Özlem Önder, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, TRN Cyprus, E-mail: [email protected]

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 07.12.2024, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 22.10.2025, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 23.10.2025, Date of Online Publication/Çevirimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 15.12.2025

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Önder, Ö. (2025). Age-Related Declines in Social Cognition: Neuropsychological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 7(4), 430-437.

© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/