[Technology Saw] – Scientists have discovered a way to assist seniors experiencing cognitive decline.
Highlights:
- The study explores how older adults’ brains adapt to maintain cognitive function despite natural age-related changes.
- Older adults who perform better on cognitive tasks show increased activity in specific brain regions, suggesting a compensatory mechanism.
- The cuneal cortex and frontal cortex show increased activity in older adults performing well on cognitive tasks.
- The cuneal cortex, linked to visual attention, exhibits heightened activity with age, possibly aiding cognitive performance in older adults.
- The findings prompt questions about why some older adults compensate better for cognitive decline and more.
- Tackling cognitive decline at old age.
What Getting Old Does to People
As we get older, our brains change, which can sometimes lead to cognitive decline or a decline in our ability to think and solve problems. However, a new study suggests that our brains might have a clever way of compensating for this natural decline.
Researchers have found that older adults who do well on cognitive tasks may be tapping into unused parts of their brains to help keep their minds sharp, particularly in areas related to visual attention.
The study aimed to understand why some older adults maintain better cognitive function than others as they age and how the brain adapts to these changes.
Led by scientists at the University of Cambridge and the University of Sussex, the research explored whether certain brain regions step in to help when other parts start to decline.
Kamen Tsvetanov, lead researcher from the University of Cambridge, explained, “Our ability to solve problems can start to decline as we get older, but some people seem to maintain this ability better than others.”
“We wanted to know why that is—do they have a way of using other parts of their brain to make up for the changes that happen as we age?”
To investigate, the researchers recruited 223 healthy adults aged 19 to 87. They used brain scans called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to see how their brains were working while they completed cognitive tasks.
The participants were asked to solve puzzles designed to challenge their thinking and problem-solving skills.
As expected, the researchers found that overall performance on the puzzles decreased with age. However, they discovered something interesting when they looked at the brain scans.
The Parts of the Brain That Suffer Cognitive Decline
Two brain regions, the cuneal cortex and the frontal cortex showed increased activity in older adults who performed well on the puzzles.
The cuneal cortex, which is involved in visual attention, seemed to be especially important. Its activity increased with age, suggesting that older adults might be using this part of their brain more effectively to help them solve problems.
This increased reliance on the cuneal cortex could be a way for older adults to focus better on the visual aspects of puzzles.
However, not all the increased brain activity was helpful. The frontal cortex also showed increased activity with age, but it didn’t seem to lead to better performance on the puzzles.
This suggests that not all brain changes associated with aging are beneficial.
The researchers also took into account other factors that could affect brain activity, such as changes in blood flow due to aging.
They found that the effects they observed were related to changes in neural activity and not just age-related changes in blood flow.
While the findings are significant, the study has some limitations. For example, it’s not clear whether the increased activity in the cuneal cortex directly improves cognitive performance or is simply associated with it.
Additionally, future studies could explore other brain regions and how they might contribute to cognitive function in older adults.
Looking ahead, the researchers hope to better understand why some older adults are able to compensate for cognitive decline better than others.
They also want to explore whether interventions, such as education or lifestyle changes, could help more people maintain cognitive function as they age.
Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging, involving a gradual decrease in cognitive abilities like memory, reasoning and problem-solving.
As people get older, they may notice changes in their ability to process information, learn new things or remember details as easily as they used to.
While some decline is expected with age, more severe impairments can greatly affect a person’s quality of life and independence.
One major sign of cognitive decline is difficulty with memory, where older adults may struggle to remember names, dates or recent events.
This can also lead to problems recalling recent conversations or tasks, and they may find it harder to concentrate or stay focused, leading to more forgetfulness and reduced productivity in daily activities.
Reasoning and problem-solving skills may also decline over time, making it tougher for older adults to tackle complex decisions or solve tricky problems.
Tasks that were once simple might now require more effort and concentration, leading to feelings of frustration and inadequacy.
Additionally, cognitive decline can affect language and communication skills, causing issues with expressing thoughts clearly or understanding complex ideas.
Older adults might have trouble finding the right words or following conversations, which can lead to withdrawing from social interactions and feeling isolated.
Tackling Cognitive Decline at Old Age
Regular physical activity like brisk walking, swimming or tai chi is a great way to keep your brain sharp as you get older.
Studies have shown that exercise not only improves your heart health but also helps your brain by increasing blood flow, growing new brain cells and reducing inflammation.
By adding aerobic exercise to your daily routine, you can boost important cognitive skills like memory, attention, and problem-solving, which can lead to a healthier brain as you age.
Also, keeping your brain active and engaged through mentally stimulating activities is another smart way to maintain your cognitive function as you age.
Things like solving puzzles, playing musical instruments, learning a new language or playing strategy games like chess can help keep your brain connections strong, encourage brain flexibility, and prevent cognitive decline.
Plus, with today’s technology, there are lots of brain-training apps and games designed to target specific cognitive skills, making it easy and fun to keep your mind in top shape as you grow older.
Connect with others for a healthy mind.
Having strong social connections and taking care of your emotional well-being are crucial for keeping your brain healthy as you get older.
Participating in social activities like volunteering, joining clubs, or taking part in group exercise classes can provide opportunities for socializing, emotional support and mental stimulation.
Research shows that having a solid social network and meaningful relationships can help protect against cognitive decline by reducing stress, improving mood and strengthening your brain’s resilience.
Plus, staying socially active can help ward off feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are known risk factors for cognitive problems and memory loss later in life.
Eat well, think well.
Having a balanced diet is key to keeping your brain sharp as you age.
It’s also important to drink plenty of water and cut back on processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats to give your brain the best fuel it needs to work well.
More so, getting enough quality sleep is super important for your brain to work at its best as you get older. When you sleep well, your brain can sort out memories, process stuff you learned and fix itself up.
It helps you think better overall. Having a regular bedtime routine, making your sleep space cozy and quiet and sticking to a sleep schedule can help you get the rest you need.
And if you have trouble sleeping, like with insomnia or sleep apnea, getting help for those issues can make a big difference in how well your brain works.