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Reviews the book, Aging and cognition: Research methodologies and empirical advances edited by Hayden B. Bosworth and Christopher Hertzog (see record 2009-08050-000 ). This book selectively summarises the latest methodological developments, broadly reviews recent empirical findings, and briefly describes the implications and challenges in the application of research findings in the area of adult development and aging. The first part of the book covers some methodological issues in research of human development and aging. The second part of the book reviews the empirical advances in cognitive, social, and psychological development across adulthood. The third part discusses the possible application of research findings to everyday cognition in an applied setting, taking medication use as an example. Although the book tries to present an integrated view, the breadth and diversity of the coverage make it a difficult and almost impossible task. As a result, the chapters are organised in such a framework that they look more like presentations in a conference proceeding. The positive side of this approach is that each chapter could stand alone as a complete review or research article; therefore, each specifically benefits those with the same research interests. Readers could easily get a quick update on the findings and developments in a specific area by selectively focusing on relevant chapters. However, this approach also has limitations. The coherence and integrity of the whole book are certainly compromised. The chapters may look disconnected from each other. Nevertheless, despite the limitations noted above, the book reports some cutting-edge methodological and empirical issues in the research of aging and cognition. The new and inspiring perspectives provided make it an informative guide for well-trained graduate students and established researchers in related research areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
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