On one of our “walk and talks” around the lush trails of Rock Creek Park in DC surrounded by bikers, runners, cars and the occasional deer, Wendy and Lisa talked about aging. Wendy’s mother, who had her children in her early 20s, was still joining the family’s grueling summer hikes with her children and nine grandchildren well into her 60s. Wendy mused about how much older she would be when their kids could have their own kids. It dawned on her that her health was not just a here and now issue, but an investment in that future. We agreed to help each other cultivate the habits and make time to build strength as well as reserves, both physical and mental, for the long-term. Their goal: to enjoy being active in their 40s and 50s while also laying the groundwork to continue being active into their 60s, 70s, and beyond. [Read more…] about New book provides practical guidance for women (and men) to rebalance our lifestyles and build Cognitive Reserve
cognitive-reserve
Exploring links between hearing loss, dementia and the ‘cognitive reserve’ — plus the role of hearing aids
How does your hearing affect dementia risk? (Alzheimer’s Research UK):
With around 1 million people affected by dementia in the UK, and 12 million people estimated to have a type of hearing loss, it’s never been more important to understand this link.
One way that hearing loss and dementia could be linked is through our blood system. [Read more…] about Exploring links between hearing loss, dementia and the ‘cognitive reserve’ — plus the role of hearing aids
Great interview on bilingualism, sports, education and neuroplasticity — en español
(translation available below)
PREGUNTA. ¿A qué se dedican los neuroconsultores? ¿Qué relación tienen con la educación?
RESPUESTA. En los últimos años ha empezado a aumentar el interés por mejorar la capacidad del cerebro. Al igual que las personas quieren estar en buena forma física, se preocupan también por estar en buena forma cognitiva. Se habla cada vez más de consultores del cerebro o entrenadores mentales y hay más actuaciones basadas en la neuroplasticidad. Esto se puede aplicar para ayudar a que los alumnos aprendan más. Por ejemplo, la escuela Arrowsmith de Canadá tiene un programa de refuerzo cognitivo para alumnos con necesidades especiales. También está creciendo mucho el mindfulness para reducir el estrés de niños y profesores. [Read more…] about Great interview on bilingualism, sports, education and neuroplasticity — en español
Study finds that cognitive activity in old age may delay the onset of dementia by 5 years

Dementia Comes 5 Years Later for Some (MedPage Today):
A cognitively active lifestyle that involves reading and processing information in old age may delay the onset of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 5 years, a longitudinal study suggested.
Older adults who had the highest level of late-life cognitive activity had a mean onset age of Alzheimer’s dementia of 94, reported Robert Wilson, PhD, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and colleagues.
In contrast, those with the lowest late-life cognitive activity levels developed dementia at age 89, they wrote in Neurology. [Read more…] about Study finds that cognitive activity in old age may delay the onset of dementia by 5 years
New book outlines the five lifestyle pillars to “build a better brain at any age”
Like many people over 60, I sometimes lose my keys or forget the names of favorite films. When I do, it makes me wonder: Is this the beginning of cognitive decline? Or, worse, am I fated to follow in the footsteps of my mother, who died of Lewy-body dementia in her 70s?
According to neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, CNN medical correspondent and author of the new book Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain at Any Age, the answer is no. Forgetfulness is normal at all ages, and your genes don’t doom you to dementia. What’s important is taking care of your brain in the best way possible, he argues.
“You can affect your brain’s thinking and memory far more than you realize or appreciate, and the vast majority of people haven’t even begun to try,” he writes.
Gupta distills results from hundreds of research studies to help readers understand what’s known (and not known) [Read more…] about New book outlines the five lifestyle pillars to “build a better brain at any age”
Study with 330 centenarians finds that cognitive decline is not inevitable

Age-Related Cognitive Decline May Not Be Inevitable (WebMD):
It is often assumed that a decrease in memory and brain function are inevitable parts of aging, but a new study of centenarians suggests otherwise.
Investigators found that despite the presence of neurological issues generally associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), many centenarians maintained high levels of cognitive performance.
(Henne Holstege, PhD, assistant professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center) said her interest in researching aging and cognitive health was inspired by the “fascinating” story of Hendrikje van Andel Schipper, who died at age 115 in 2005 “completely cognitively healthy.” Her mother, who died at age 100, was also cognitively intact at the end of her life. [Read more…] about Study with 330 centenarians finds that cognitive decline is not inevitable