title: Environmental Enrichment as a Positive Behavioral Intervention Across the Lifespan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent decades, the interest in behavioral interventions has been growing due to the higher prevalence of age-related cognitive impairments. Hence, behavioral interventions, such as cognitive stimulation and physical activity, and along with these, our lifestyle (education level, work position, frequency of cognitive and social activities) have shown important benefits during the cognitive impairment, dementia and even recovery after brain injury. This is due to the fact that this type of intervention and activities promote the formation of a cognitive and brain reserve that allows tolerating brain damage during a long period of time without the appearance of cognitive symptoms. With regard to this, animal models have proved very useful in providing information about the brain mechanisms involved in the development of these cognitive and brain reserves and how they interact with each other.
  
  
  METHODS
  We summarize several studies showing the positive effects of Environmental Enrichment (EE), understood as a housing condition in which animals benefit from the sensory, physical, cognitive and social stimulation provided, on brain and cognitive functions usually impaired during aging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of studies have shown that EE is a successful protocol to improve cognitive functions and reduce anxiety-related behaviors across the lifespan, as well as in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, EE is a laboratory condition in which some aspects of an active lifestyle are reproduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sampedro-Piquero
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Department, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n 33003 Oviedo, INEUROPA, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Begega
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans
keywords: Aging; animal model; environmental enrichment; experience-dependent plasticity; neurodegenerative diseases