Mental stimulation as a enhancing factor of cognitive reserve and active aging

Abstract

Population aging brings forward social and demographical changes that are driving the search for strategies to help delay or counteract age-related cognitive decline and to identify interventions addressed to build the “cognitive reserve”. Our main aim is to show how mental stimulation and cognitive training may be factors which will drive us to a more successful and active aging. A high cognitive reserve may act as a neuroprotective factor against the initiation and development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The neurobiological basis of this reserve has not been clearly established but different factors like education, physical exercise, occupation, bilingualism, social relationships, intellectual stimulation or nutrition could play a relevant role. The present review focuses specifically on the effects of complex environments and mental stimulation, highlighting the controversy regarding potential benefits of different types of brain training. It also discusses the role of creativity as a resilience promoting factor and its possible contribution to a more active aging. Further studies are needed, both clinical and epidemiological, in order to design interventions aimed at enhancing the cognitive reserve and confirming the hypothesis that cognitive and physical activity is the best way to prevent cognitive decline associated with aging.