Cognitive Function and What You Can Do to Combat Cognitive Decline | Dr. Debbie Smrz
Cognitive decline is a growing concern, especially as we age. However, there’s an intriguing concept that offers hope: cognitive reserve. This reserve is essentially the brain’s ability to think with all the different neurological pathways you’ve created over your lifetime. If, for whatever reason, the pathway from point A to point B is damaged, the brain can compensate by using alternate routes. This compensatory ability means that damage may not lead to noticeable symptoms because the brain can still function using other pathways.
Cognitive Reserve: How Novel Activities Combat Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline is a growing concern, especially as we age. However, there’s an intriguing concept that offers hope: cognitive reserve. This reserve is essentially the brain’s ability to think with all the different neurological pathways you’ve created over your lifetime. If, for whatever reason, the pathway from point A to point B is damaged, the brain can compensate by using alternate routes. This compensatory ability means that damage may not lead to noticeable symptoms because the brain can still function using other pathways.
What Is Cognitive Reserve?
Have you ever wondered why some people can have a concussion and it doesn’t seem to affect them as much as others, or why brain inflammation impacts some individuals more than others? Cognitive reserve plays a significant role in this. It’s closely linked to how early you might display symptoms of dementia. If dementia is inevitable for someone, having a higher reserve can delay when they would actually show symptoms . Essentially, the higher the cognitive reserve, the longer it takes for symptoms to appear, allowing for a better quality of life for a longer period.
Building a Healthier Cognitive Reserve Over Time
So, how do you build a healthier cognitive reserve over time?
- Education
Studies have shown that education plays a crucial role. People who have had less than eight years of education are at a 2.2 times greater risk of experiencing cognitive decline. Additionally, continual learning throughout life is key. If you have a job that requires you to learn, rationalize, and solve problems, you’re in a better position. Those who have jobs that are more repetitive and don’t involve learning new things have a 2.25 times greater risk of developing dementia later in life.
- Social and Mental Stimulation
What if your job doesn’t allow you to learn new things, and you don’t have higher education? Don’t worry; there are still things you can do. A big one is social stimulation. Getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, and engaging in conversations can significantly benefit your brain. Alongside this, mental stimulation is crucial. But here’s where it gets interesting: not all mental activities are equal.
In communities like Unionville, Markham, Ontario, where Naturopathic Living Medical Solutions is located, local organizations participate in monthly events that provide excellent opportunities for social and cognitive engagement. For example, the next event in October is the Women’s Social, where The Business Women’s Networking Group of York Region will be hosted. This event is perfect for business owners looking to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. These gatherings offer not only social interaction but also mental stimulation, as they encourage participants to engage in discussions, share ideas, and learn from one another—activities that are may help building cognitive reserve.
- Novel and Complex Activities
Many people think that doing crosswords and Sudoku will stave off cognitive decline. Unfortunately, research shows that these activities might not be as beneficial as we once thought. They make you better at crosswords and Sudoku, but they don’t seem to support your overall cognitive abilities. We need to think about activities that involve spatial learning, memory (both short-term and long-term), and the ability to form new memories and ideas.
So, what does push the envelope? One study found that the strategy video game Rise of Nations had a significant impact on cognitive abilities in elderly participants. The researchers had a group of elderly individuals play Rise of Nations, and, despite initial frustration from many participants, they found that this game did may help support cognitive functions. The game requires you to think strategically, manage different tasks and goals, and adapt to new challenges—basically a lot of novel, complex pieces that push you out of your comfort zone.
The researchers were so excited about these findings that they’re planning to add exercise into the mix for future studies. Physical activity is known to be one of the most powerful things you can do to support memory and support brain function. I’ll be talking more about this in another episode, so keep an eye out if you’re interested in learning more.
What Doesn’t Work as Well?
It’s crucial to understand that not all activities contribute equally to building cognitive reserve. While staying mentally active is important, simply doing crosswords or Sudoku isn’t enough. These activities might support specific skills but won’t necessarily support overall cognitive abilities. We need to engage in activities that challenge us in new and complex ways.
Conclusion: Enhancing Cognitive Reserve for a Healthier Brain
Cognitive decline may be a natural part of aging, but building a robust cognitive reserve can delay its onset and impact. Through education, social engagement, and engaging in novel, complex activities like strategy games, you can strengthen your brain’s resilience. While we may not prevent conditions like dementia entirely, enhancing cognitive reserve offers a valuable tool for maintaining cognitive health and improving quality of life as we age.