title: Promotion of cognitive health through cognitive activity in the aging population.
abstract: There is both popular and scientific interest in keeping the brain young and avoiding cognitive impairment and dementia. Older adults may be able to modify their cognitive health status through certain health behaviors. The aim of this review is to highlight the potential impact that cognitive activity may have on cognitive health outcomes in late life. Evidence from observational studies and randomized, controlled trials suggests that engagement in activities that are cognitively stimulating is beneficial to cognitive functioning. There are many issues and questions that need to be addressed before specific recommendations can be made at the population level or to individual patients. However, older adults should be encouraged to stay active and to try new and challenging activities in general to promote their cognitive and overall health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA, Tel.: +1 412 647 6619, , hughest2@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Tiffany F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Hughes
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2010 Jan;67(1):107-11
references.pmid: 20065137
references.citation: Neurology. 2001 Jan 9;56(1):37-42
references.pmid: 11148233
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2009 Sep;66(9):1151-7
references.pmid: 19752306
references.citation: Lancet Neurol. 2003 Jan;2(1):15-21
references.pmid: 12849297
references.citation: Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):345-57
references.pmid: 18979948
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2008 Aug;98(8):1359-66
references.pmid: 18556609
references.citation: Science. 1993 Aug 13;261(5123):921-3
references.pmid: 8346443
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 Apr;57(4):594-603
references.pmid: 19220558
references.citation: Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2348-53
references.pmid: 15623698
references.citation: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(4):CD003260
references.pmid: 14583963
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2008 Dec;23(4):778-86
references.pmid: 19140649
references.citation: J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2007 Dec;20(4):239-49
references.pmid: 18004010
references.citation: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2003 Aug;25(5):634-42
references.pmid: 12815501
references.citation: Neurology. 2002 Dec 24;59(12):1910-4
references.pmid: 12499482
references.citation: Brain Res Rev. 2007 Nov;56(1):198-213
references.pmid: 17870176
references.citation: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2006 Oct-Dec;20(4):217-23
references.pmid: 17132965
references.citation: Lancet Neurol. 2005 Aug;4(8):487-99
references.pmid: 16033691
references.citation: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009 Mar;17(3):179-87
references.pmid: 19225276
references.citation: Neurology. 2003 Sep 23;61(6):812-6
references.pmid: 14504326
references.citation: JAMA. 2002 Nov 6;288(17):2123-9
references.pmid: 12413371
references.citation: J Urban Health. 2004 Mar;81(1):64-78
references.pmid: 15047786
references.citation: Curr Alzheimer Res. 2009 Aug;6(4):375-83
references.pmid: 19689237
references.citation: JAMA. 2006 Dec 20;296(23):2805-14
references.pmid: 17179457
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 1997 Nov;54(11):1399-405
references.pmid: 9362989
references.citation: Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006 Aug;114(2):75-90
references.pmid: 16836595
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2002 Jun 15;155(12):1081-7
references.pmid: 12048221
references.citation: Curr Psychiatry Rev. 2009 May 1;5(2):73-92
references.pmid: 19946443
references.citation: Annu Rev Public Health. 2002;23:213-31
references.pmid: 11910061
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;22(5-6):413-20
references.pmid: 16966831
references.citation: Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1911-20
references.pmid: 17596582
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Dec;64(12):1275-82
references.pmid: 19692672
references.citation: Int Psychogeriatr. 1994 Spring;6(1):63-8
references.pmid: 8054494
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2006 Sep;21(3):573-80
references.pmid: 16953718
references.citation: JAMA. 2003 May 28;289(20):2651-62
references.pmid: 12771112
references.citation: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007 Apr;22(4):356-60
references.pmid: 17117398
references.citation: Neurology. 2004 Jul 13;63(1):115-21
references.pmid: 15249620
references.citation: Gerontologist. 2008 Dec;48(6):793-801
references.pmid: 19139252
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;21(2):65-73
references.pmid: 16319455
references.citation: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2009 Jul-Sep;23(3):205-10
references.pmid: 19812460
references.citation: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2006 Jan-Mar;20(1):63-72
references.pmid: 16493239
references.citation: Alzheimers Dement. 2008 Sep;4(5):324-31
references.pmid: 18790459
references.citation: Neurology. 2006 Mar 28;66(6):821-7
references.pmid: 16467493
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2002 Mar;57(2):P153-62
references.pmid: 11867663
references.citation: Perspect Psychol Sci. 2006 Mar;1(1):68-87
references.pmid: 26151186
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2002 Dec;17(4):548-57
references.pmid: 12507353
references.citation: JAMA. 2002 Nov 13;288(18):2271-81
references.pmid: 12425704
references.citation: J Intern Med. 2004 Sep;256(3):240-6
references.pmid: 15324367
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2003 Jun 19;348(25):2508-16
references.pmid: 12815136
references.citation: Gerontologist. 1997 Aug;37(4):433-40
references.pmid: 9279031
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 Sep;61(5):P253-61
references.pmid: 16960228
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2003 Sep;58(5):P249-55
references.pmid: 14507930
references.citation: J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 1997 Sep;3(5):487-96
references.pmid: 9322409
references.citation: J Alzheimers Dis. 2002 Jun;4(3):169-77
references.pmid: 12226536
references.citation: Neurology. 2006 Mar 28;66(6):911-3
references.pmid: 16291928
references.citation: Neuropsychologia. 2009 Aug;47(10):2015-28
references.pmid: 19467352
references.citation: Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2008 Oct;9(1):1-65
references.pmid: 26162004