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Is it a attainable goal to remain mentally faster during aging, or is it a pipe dream?
This is completely possible if you cultivate habits throughout your life that are beneficial Brain Celebration.
As a researcher in cognitive Neurology And neurocycology of aging processes, I aim to throw light on ways that we can maintain good cognitive health while aging in the light of recent scientific progress.
Importance of cognitive reserve
One of the most effective strategies has been identified by research that develops and maintains good cognitive reserves.
Cognitive reserve refers to the ability of the brain to oppose the aging or neurodogenative diseases, resulting in significant functional decline. This concept is now central for approach to prevent cognitive decline.
In your report Dementia Prevention, intervention and careUpdate in 2024, the Lancet highlighted the fact that 45 percent dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 convertible risk factors.
These factors include physical inaction, Depression And social isolation.
But one of the earliest and most important factors is low level of education.
Beyond education
Education has long been considered the main indicator of cognitive reserve. This indicates prolonged contact for intellectually stimulating activities that promote the development of effective brain networks.
But this scene is now considered incomplete. Cognitive reserves are not fixed in childhood or adulthood: it can be made through various experiences, including learning, rich social interaction and cognitively stimulating leisure activities through various experiences.
Specific examples of these activities include a musical instrument or complex board games such as chess, or voluntary activities, requiring planning and problem-solving skills.
Understand cognitive reserve
Scientific research provides several supplemented models to understand the mechanism of cognitive reserve.
Some focus on the structure of the brain itself, suggest that characteristics such as the number of neurons affect brain tolerance to damage. It is a brain reserve model, based on the idea that some people are born with a greater number of neurons, making them able to face better with aging.
Others argue that active lifestyle can slow down the effects of aging of brain by strengthening biological flexibility – for example, the brain’s ability to remain intact and functional as it shows some visible signs of deteriorating despite age. It is a brain maintenance model.
About the author
Benjamin Boller, Associate Professor in Neurocycaology, University of Quebec (UQTR)
This article was first published Conversation And a creative Commons has been reinstated under the license. read the Original article,
A third set of models emphasizes the functional flexibility of the brain, which allows it to recruit an alternative nerve network to raise its resources in different ways or to compensate for age-related damage. It is known as cognitive reserve model.
These various models are part of a common conceptual structure that distinguish between brain reserve, brain maintenance and cognitive reserve.
Each model is based on a specific idea, but they are complemented and supported by empirical data.
Cognitive reserve models are most widely studied, especially due to convertible factors such as the level of education and cognitively due to the link of regular participation in stimulating activities.
Cognitive reserved dynamic
This explanation helps to guide research and effectively prevention strategies. Above all, it reminds us that far away from being a certain unit, cognitive reserve develops due to conversation with experience and learning, and therefore can be strengthened throughout life.
The recent work supports this dynamic view. A team of Quebec researchers, of which I am a member, has shown that the method of learning structured strategies, including the method of Loki (connecting each piece of information with a familiar location) or mental view (changing the information in images to maintain it better), may induce significant changes in brain activity.
A combination of activation and decrease in activation, including variation in the level of activity in different regions of the brain, was seen in various brain areas during the stages of learning and memorization. This observation reflects the fact that the use of memory strategies allows more functional flexibility in the brain.
Common initial symptoms of dementia
NHS
Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.
However, some common initial symptoms may include:
- Memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- It is difficult to perform familiar daily tasks, such as confusing the correct change while shopping
- Struggle to follow the conversation or find the right word
- Confuse time and place
- Mood change
The results also showed that in more educated individuals, some areas are activated in a more targeted manner while learning and remembering, suggesting that their brains use more effective strategies.
Other researches have also highlighted the role of education in brain structure and function. A study conducted with colleagues highlighted a relationship between years of school education, volume of gray matter and brain activation in terms of memory. Another study in which I participated in more educated individuals showed more flexibility of activation according to work complexity.
All of this research confirm that cognitive reserves can be developed with experience and can be modified by cognitive training at any age.
Stimulate your brain
In the same vein, the study attached by the Canadian Consortium on aging and neurodizonation aim to study the behavior and neurophysiological effects of stimulating leisure activities in older adults.
It combines hybrid intervention formal cognitive training (memorization strategies, attention) with structured holiday activities such as learning music, a second language or video game.
It provides an ecological model-in second words, a approach that is close to real-life conditions, pleasant and suited to motivational and constant engagement.
By demonstrating that these natural intervention creates equal effects to traditional cognitive training programs, which often have exercises on a computer or on paper, such as working on tasks such as memory or concentration, can change the approach to prevent attached age -related cognitive decline.
Learn a second language
We are operating a supplementary project in my neurocycaology of aging laboratory (neuroage) at the University of Cubek at Trois-Relieves (UQTR).
In collaboration with Professors Paul John from modern languages ​​and translations, and from Simon Rigolot, from the Department of Psychology, we are searching for the effects of English learning as a second language on cognition and brain activity in older adults.
Using a protocol that integrates classes, tuition and cognitive and electroncephalography measurements, the purpose of this project is to document the cognitive and accessible learning cognitive and nervous benefits.
Initial results are promising and supporting the idea that intellectual engagement, even when later in life, can produce average gain.
A combination of accessible, motivational and stimulating interventions is required to maintain good cognitive health at any age.
Cognitive reserves, away from being fixed, is made throughout life. Advance in research now provides us solid equipment for healthy aging, especially when it comes to cognitive health.