"Decades of research show that people who have more years of education, more cognitively demanding jobs or more mentally stimulating hobbies all tend to have a reduced risk of cognitive impairment as they get older. Experts think this is partly thanks to cognitive reserve: Basically, the more brain power you've built up over the years, the more you can stand to lose before you experience impairment."
"To build up these connections, you need to stimulate your brain, said Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health and the founder and chief medical officer of the telehealth platform Isaac Health. To do that, try an activity that is challenging enough that it requires some effort but not so challenging that you don't want to do it anymore, he said."
More years of education, cognitively demanding jobs, and mentally stimulating hobbies associate with lower risk of cognitive impairment in later life. Cognitive reserve refers to accumulated brain capacity that allows individuals to tolerate more neurological loss before showing impairment. Stronger connections between different brain regions may indicate greater cognitive reserve. Building these connections requires regular mental stimulation through activities that are challenging but still enjoyable. Bilingualism, playing a musical instrument, visiting museums, and handicrafts like knitting can all help. Social and navigational components add extra benefit, such as joining book clubs or attending in-person lectures. Games and puzzles, including chess and crosswords, may also contribute.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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