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Mitigating the negative impacts of aging on cognitive function; modifiable factors associated with increasing cognitive reserve
Author(s) -
Amanollahi Mobina,
Amanollahi Saba,
Anjomshoa Ali,
Dolatshahi Mahsa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.15183
Subject(s) - cognitive reserve , cognition , dementia , psychology , cognitive decline , gerontology , cognitive aging , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , mediterranean diet , aging brain , clinical psychology , medicine , neuroscience , cognitive impairment , disease , pathology
Research suggests that social, physical, and cognitively challenging activities during lifetime, could mitigate the negative effects of aging on cognitive function. This effect is explained by the increased cognitive reserve (CR) resulting from such factors; in fact, such activities, by altering structural and functional properties of the human brain, equip one with more effective compensatory mechanisms to resist brain damage before the presentation of severe clinical symptoms. Therefore, applying appropriate modifications in one's lifestyle and activities may be effective in lowering the risk of developing dementia and cognitive dysfunction in old age, especially in brain areas that are susceptible to aging. In this paper, we are going to review relevant studies discussing the association between important modifiable factors, known as CR proxies (i.e., educational attainment, occupational complexity, physical activity, social engagement, bilingualism, leisure activities, and Mediterranean diet), and different domains of cognitive function, which are affected either in the process of healthy aging or neurodegenerative diseases.