Studying memory aging from an embodied point of view: reflections on the contribution of aging suits

Aging suits simulating physical declines in aging have been created in order to better understand difficulties encountered by older adults. These tools could be interesting in the study of aging cognitive processes. According to embodied cognition theories, sensorimotor and cognitive declines in aging could be linked. This methodological review (1) describes the aging suits equipment used to simulate sensorimotor declines during aging, (2) explores the idea that aging suits could highlight a decrease in cognitive performance in young adults, approaching older adults’ cognitive performance, and (3) underlines the missing elements in the literature and the factors to be taken into account in order to develop future studies of cognitive processes using these aging suits. Studying the embodied links between sensorimotor and cognitive aging using these tools could support our knowledge on aging as well as the care of aging people.