Promotion of cognitive health through cognitive activity in the aging population.
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.
Hughes
Tiffany F
TF
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.
Arch Neurol. 2010 Jan;67(1):107-11
20065137
Neurology. 2001 Jan 9;56(1):37-42
11148233
Arch Neurol. 2009 Sep;66(9):1151-7
19752306
Lancet Neurol. 2003 Jan;2(1):15-21
12849297
Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):345-57
18979948
Am J Public Health. 2008 Aug;98(8):1359-66
18556609
Science. 1993 Aug 13;261(5123):921-3
8346443
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 Apr;57(4):594-603
19220558
Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2348-53
15623698
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(4):CD003260
14583963
Psychol Aging. 2008 Dec;23(4):778-86
19140649
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2007 Dec;20(4):239-49
18004010
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2003 Aug;25(5):634-42
12815501
Neurology. 2002 Dec 24;59(12):1910-4
12499482
Brain Res Rev. 2007 Nov;56(1):198-213
17870176
Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2006 Oct-Dec;20(4):217-23
17132965
Lancet Neurol. 2005 Aug;4(8):487-99
16033691
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009 Mar;17(3):179-87
19225276
Neurology. 2003 Sep 23;61(6):812-6
14504326
JAMA. 2002 Nov 6;288(17):2123-9
12413371
J Urban Health. 2004 Mar;81(1):64-78
15047786
Curr Alzheimer Res. 2009 Aug;6(4):375-83
19689237
JAMA. 2006 Dec 20;296(23):2805-14
17179457
Arch Neurol. 1997 Nov;54(11):1399-405
9362989
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006 Aug;114(2):75-90
16836595
Am J Epidemiol. 2002 Jun 15;155(12):1081-7
12048221
Curr Psychiatry Rev. 2009 May 1;5(2):73-92
19946443
Annu Rev Public Health. 2002;23:213-31
11910061
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;22(5-6):413-20
16966831
Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1911-20
17596582
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Dec;64(12):1275-82
19692672
Int Psychogeriatr. 1994 Spring;6(1):63-8
8054494
Psychol Aging. 2006 Sep;21(3):573-80
16953718
JAMA. 2003 May 28;289(20):2651-62
12771112
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007 Apr;22(4):356-60
17117398
Neurology. 2004 Jul 13;63(1):115-21
15249620
Gerontologist. 2008 Dec;48(6):793-801
19139252
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;21(2):65-73
16319455
Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2009 Jul-Sep;23(3):205-10
19812460
Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2006 Jan-Mar;20(1):63-72
16493239
Alzheimers Dement. 2008 Sep;4(5):324-31
18790459
Neurology. 2006 Mar 28;66(6):821-7
16467493
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2002 Mar;57(2):P153-62
11867663
Perspect Psychol Sci. 2006 Mar;1(1):68-87
26151186
Psychol Aging. 2002 Dec;17(4):548-57
12507353
JAMA. 2002 Nov 13;288(18):2271-81
12425704
J Intern Med. 2004 Sep;256(3):240-6
15324367
N Engl J Med. 2003 Jun 19;348(25):2508-16
12815136
Gerontologist. 1997 Aug;37(4):433-40
9279031
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 Sep;61(5):P253-61
16960228
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2003 Sep;58(5):P249-55
14507930
J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 1997 Sep;3(5):487-96
9322409
J Alzheimers Dis. 2002 Jun;4(3):169-77
12226536
Neurology. 2006 Mar 28;66(6):911-3
16291928
Neuropsychologia. 2009 Aug;47(10):2015-28
19467352
Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2008 Oct;9(1):1-65
26162004