Open AccessRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE RESERVE, MOTOR RESERVE AND THALAMUS VOLUMETRY IN OLDER ADULTS
Author(s) -
Anete Šneidere-Šustiņa,
Kristīne Šneidere,
Nicholas G. Dowell,
Ainārs Stepens
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība/sabiedrība. integrācija. izglītība/society. integration. education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2256-0629
pISSN - 1691-5887
DOI - 10.17770/sie2021vol4.6403
Subject(s) - cognitive reserve , dementia , cognition , psychology , population , physical medicine and rehabilitation , cognitive decline , medicine , gerontology , audiology , cognitive impairment , neuroscience , environmental health , disease
With the increasing worldwide population, an ongoing escalation in mild cognitive impairment and dementia is predicted. Motor reserve – the cumulative physical activity experience gained throughout life, as well as cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to overcome a pathology, such as neurodegenerative disorders, - has been identified as protective factors in cognitive decline. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive reserve, motor reserve, and brain volumetry in older adults. 44 older adults (M = 70, SD = 5.18, 77.3% female) with no self-reported significant neurological, ongoing oncological etc. disorders that might limit their participation in the study were involved in the study. All participants underwent a thorough life-style and psychological assessment, as well as structural brain MRI analysis. Overall, our study indicated the significance of a combination of lifestyle factors in predicting thalamic volume. The results of this study indicate that life-long participation in physical, intellectual, and social activities could be beneficial for preserving the volume of thalamus, which is among the first to decline due to aging.