It is increasingly recognized that the embodiment of older adults reflects the declines in physical capacity that typically attend aging. Specifically, older adult embodiment is characterized by decreased involvement of bodily and action-system inputs, true for both cognitive and perceptual processing (Costello & Bloesch, Frontiers in Psychology, 267, 2017; Kuehn et al., Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 86, 207–225, 2018), and for emotional processing (Mendes, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 86, 207–225, 2010; MacCormack et al., Emotion Review, 9(1), 36–45, 2024). However, it is unclear whether this “less embodied” effect extends into language capacity, for language is relatively well preserved in healthy aging with no obvious manifestations of embodiment-based changes. This critical review paper explores the question through evidence drawn from multiple facets of language processing that are pertinent to the embodiment of language. We find positive evidence of embodiment-based reweighting (EBR) effects for older adult language, with decreased salience of physicality and action-based inputs that are offset by increased weighting for visuo-cognitive facets of language. We interpret the EBR model in light of both compensatory and predictive coding models, and discuss its broader significance and consequences.
