Mitigating the negative impacts of aging on cognitive function; modifiable factors associated with increasing cognitive reserve

Abstract

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. K E Y W O R D Saging, cognitive reserve, dementia, neural compensation, neural plasticity Edited by Yoland Smith F I G U R E 1 Mechanisms involved in life-time cognitive ability. Brain reserve, the intrinsic brain ability to maintain cognitive function which is dependent on brain structure, and cognitive reserve, which comprises the compensatory changes in brain structure and function and is promoted by several activities How to cite this article: Amanollahi M, Amanollahi S, Anjomshoa A, Dolatshahi M. Mitigating the negative impacts of aging on cognitive function; modifiable factors associated with increasing cognitive reserve.

Associations of particulate matter with dementia and mild cognitive impairment in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study

“…For example, it has been found in previous studies that people who exercise properly, have no history of cerebral infarction, do not smoke, and drink a little alcohol have a lower risk of dementia, 29 while PM 2.5 has a stronger effect in these people. Cognitive reserve is an exception 30 ; we found that people with higher cognitive reserve (associated with higher education) were less likely to be affected by PM 2.5 levels. This may be related to the fact that cognitive reserve is a part of cognitive function, and people with higher overall cognitive reserve are less likely to progress to dementia/ MCI even though their cognitive function may decline after exposure to PM 2.5 .…”

Accuracy of the Short-Form Montreal Cognitive Assessment Chinese Versions

“…The hypothesis of brain reserve and cognitive reserve (CR) can be a tentative explanation of these findings. Brain reserve refers to brain volume and the number of connections among neurons, and those with younger age tended to have high brain reserve (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ). CR is believed to counter the effects of aging or brain damage, and higher education is associated with higher CR (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Brain reserve refers to brain volume and the number of connections among neurons, and those with younger age tended to have high brain reserve (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ). CR is believed to counter the effects of aging or brain damage, and higher education is associated with higher CR (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ). Individuals with high brain reserve or CR, can compensate cognitive decline (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ).…”

“…CR is believed to counter the effects of aging or brain damage, and higher education is associated with higher CR (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ). Individuals with high brain reserve or CR, can compensate cognitive decline (Amanollahi et al, 2021 ). And younger individuals or highly educated participants were less likely to be identified as cognitively impaired through cognitive tests.…”

The Paradoxical Effect of Living Alone on Cognitive Reserve and Mild Cognitive Impairment among Women Aged 60+ in Mexico City

“…It is determined by several modifiable factors, including occupational attainment, engagement in leisure activities, physical activity, social engagement, or brain-challenging tasks. CR has been shown to mitigate the negative impact of aging on cognitive function and it is worth noting that there are modifiable factors that can increase it [12].…”