Some people reach old age while maintaining their cognitive function whereas others experience cognitive decline. Scientists have studied for many years what factors may protect people from age-related cognitive decline. The role of childhood cognitive ability has been investigated in many studies, with research showing an association with later-life cognition [1; 2]. But what can you do today for long-term brain health? A recent longitudinal study reported that while childhood cognitive function was associated with late-life cognitive function, educational attainment, leisure activities, and occupation throughout life also contributed to cognitive functions in later life [3].
These findings come from the 1946 British birth cohort, where 1,184 people were followed from birth to age 70 [3]. Participants took cognitive tests when they were 8 years old and then again at the age of 69. At age 53, participants took a reading test that measured knowledge acquired over the life course. Also, information was obtained on educational attainment by the age of 26, participation in leisure activities (intellectual, social, and physical activities) at age 43, and the length and level of complexity of jobs held up to age 53, which together constituted an index of cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is the capacity of the brain to resist the effects of age-related changes or disease-related pathology that typically leads to a decline in cognitive function [4]. The cognitive reserve theory proposes that the knowledge and experiences people gain throughout their lifetime allow them to better cope with age-related brain changes and maintain cognitive function [5].
This longitudinal study found that higher cognitive scores in childhood, higher cognitive reserve, and greater knowledge acquired over the life course were all associated with higher cognitive scores at the age of 69 [3]. Interestingly, the link between childhood cognitive scores and late-life cognitive function disappeared in people who gained high cognitive reserve or acquired a great amount of knowledge by mid-life. This suggests that cognitively stimulating activities, such as having an intellectually enriching job or participating in cognitively stimulating leisure activities throughout life can offset the negative influence of low cognitive function in childhood. Leisure activities included belonging to or running classes/schools, sports clubs, voluntary services, or church activities; participation in sports, artistic activities, musical activities, and intellectual activities; meeting friends or relatives socially; and participation in sports, vigorous physical activities, gardening, and constructive activities (making things with your hands). People who participated in 6 or more leisure activities in mid-life had higher cognitive function at the age of 69 than people who participated in 0-4 leisure activities.
The role of APOE4, the genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, was also investigated in this study. Interestingly, having the APOE4 variant did not alter the relationship between childhood cognitive function and late-life cognitive function, such that people with high or low childhood cognition had comparable rates of cognitive decline over the life course regardless of the presence of APOE4.
These findings are encouraging in that there are steps you can take to help maintain cognitive function into old age, regardless of your childhood cognitive abilities or genetics (e.g., whether you carry the APOE4 variant or not). Some examples include spending quality time with friends and family, reading books, learning a new language, taking a class, playing a musical instrument, playing sports, visiting the museum, drawing/painting/crafting, participating in groups/clubs, volunteering, and many others. It is never too late to learn something new and stimulate your brain for long-term cognitive health.
Yuko Hara, PhD, is Director of Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. Dr. Hara was previously an Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she remains an adjunct faculty member. Her research focused on brain aging, specifically how estrogens and reproductive aging influence the aging brain's synapses and mitochondria. She earned a doctorate in neurology and neuroscience at Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Cornell University, with additional study at Keio University in Japan. Dr. Hara has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, including articles in PNAS and Journal of Neuroscience.
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