Cognitive Reserve: Suppressing Neurodegeneration

Post date: Oct 19, 2016 9:38:00 AM

In 1988, the Annals of Neurology published a study wherein 137 elderly people, who had an average age of 85.5 years, had their mental status, memory, and cognitive function evaluated and then examined postmortem. Seventy-eight percent of them exhibited some form of dementia, while 55 percent showed manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease.

They were surprised to find that those whose brain had extensive Alzheimer’s disease pathology showed little to no symptoms of the illness when they were still alive. More findings showed that these individuals had higher brain weights and more neuron count than control subjects of the same age and also in a nursing home.

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This was the first time in medical literature that the concept of the cognitive reserve was mentioned and discussed.

Currently, cognitive reserve is scientifically defined as the brain’s capability of carrying out cognitive functions even with a certain amount of damage to and aging caused degeneration of the brain.

There have been empirical evidence of cognitive reserve helping people not just cope with the advancing deterioration of their cognitive function, but also be protected from the occurrence of any neurodegeneration in the first place.

Image source: agedcareguide.com.au

Other than brain size and a number of neurons, there are also correlations between increased one’s cognitive reserve and his education, occupation, and lifestyle.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., has extensive experience in varying fields, including aerospace, engineering, software development, bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, psychology, and child neurodevelopment. His diverse multidisciplinary professional and academic background help him develop neuroengineering programs aimed at diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. Learn more about Dr. Cripe by following this Facebook page.