REVIEWAchieving and Maintaining Cognitive Vitality With Aging
Section snippets
Neuropsychology
Cognitive decline, although a relatively common occurrence, cannot be considered an inevitable part of aging. Nature provides clear examples of elderly people who maintain cognitive vitality, even in extreme old age. Many older adults who live into their ninth decade retain high cognitive function,10 and centenarians who maintain their intellect negate the myth of the inevitability of cognitive decline.11, 12
The aging brain remains capable of adapting to stimuli, and although declines in
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE COGNITIVE VITALITY WITH AGING
Emerging research has resulted in a growing understanding of the potentially modifiable risk factors associated with cognitive decline in late life, and several interventions are being evaluated in research studies to prevent cognitive decline and dementia in older persons (Table 1).63
PHARMACEUTICAL APPROACHES
Although most pharmaceutical research to date has focused on the development of drugs to prevent or treat dementia, interest is growing in the development of pharmacologic agents for cognitive enhancement in older persons experiencing normal cognitive aging.188 Some agents are being evaluated for AAMI and MCI.54
CONCLUSION
Cognitive vitality is essential to quality of life and survival in older persons. Research on cognitive aging indicates that cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of aging. Studies in animals have clearly shown considerable plasticity in the aging brain. Recent studies have identified several risk factors for cognitive decline that are modifiable, including lifestyle factors and medical comorbidities. These emerging scientific data have important implications for preventing and managing
Acknowledgments
We thank Dennis Evans, MD, Neil Buckholz, PhD, and Marcelle Morrison-Bogorad, PhD, for their participation and contributions to this work. We are also grateful to Tonya Lee, Nora O'Brien, MA, and Sue Reynolds-Foley, MHA, for their invaluable help.
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This work was cosponsored by the Institute for the Study of Aging, Inc, the International Longevity Center, the National Institute on Aging, and Canyon Ranch Health Resorts. The work was also supported by Pfizer, Inc, Eisai, Inc, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Neurochem, Inc, Elan Pharmaceuticals (formerly Athena Neurosciences, Inc), and the Fidelity Foundation.