Uncategorized

Dementia scheduled to be leading cause of death; which is protracted and often results in nursing home care. Can we do anything to prevent or at best delay this? Do you know about “Cognitive Reserve”. Here is a piece from Harvard HEALTH beat (Harvard Medical School).

Fred Bassett's avatarPosted by
Subscribe | Shop the Bookstore What is cognitive reserve? 4f228e3a-9649-4642-85c0-412488a80728 An important concept that is crucial to the understanding of cognitive health is known as cognitive reserve. You can think of cognitive reserve as your brain’s ability to improvise and find alternate ways of getting a job done. Just like a powerful car that enables you to engage another gear and suddenly accelerate to avoid an obstacle, your brain can change the way it operates and thus make added resources available to cope with challenges. Cognitive reserve is developed by a lifetime of education and curiosity to help your brain better cope with any failures or declines it faces.  Discover how to keep your brain its healthiest best!
  In this Special Health Report, Harvard Medical School doctors share a six-step program that can yield important and lasting results. Together these “super 6” can strengthen your intellectual prowess, promote your powers of recall, and protect the brain-based skills that are essential for full, rewarding, and independent living. From simple and specific changes in eating to ways to challenge your brain, this is guidance that will pay dividends for you and your future.

The concept of cognitive reserve originated in the late 1980s, when researchers described individuals with no apparent symptoms of dementia who were nonetheless found at autopsy to have brain changes consistent with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. These individuals did not show symptoms of the disease while they were alive because they had a large enough cognitive reserve to offset the damage and continue to function as usual.  Since then, research has shown that people with greater cognitive reserve are better able to stave off symptoms of degenerative brain changes associated with dementia or other brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or a stroke. A more robust cognitive reserve can also help you function better for longer if you’re exposed to unexpected life events, such as stress, surgery, or toxins in the environment. Such circumstances demand extra effort from your brain—similar to requiring a car to engage another gear. For strategies to help your mind stay sharp as you age, enroll in the Cognitive Fitness online learning course from Harvard Medical School. Image: gmac84/Getty Images Share this story: Featured in this issue
A Guide to Cognitive Fitness Featured content:
• Cognitive fitness: Your No. 1 health goal • How cognitive function is shaped over a lifetime • Medical conditions that affect the brain • STEP 1: Eat a plant-based diet • STEP 2: Exercise regularly • STEP 3: Get enough sleep  • STEP 4: Manage your stress
Click here to read more » Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 60 health topics.
Visit our website at https://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.

PHONE ORDERS – please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. You are currently subscribed to HEALTHbeat as michelleclarke@upcmail.ie.

UPDATE EMAIL FREQUENCY/PROFILE
UNSUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE TO HEALTHbeat
VIEW HEALTHbeat ARCHIVES
PRIVACY POLICY Visit our website at: https://www.health.harvard.edu
Email us at: healthbeat@health.harvard.edu

FOLLOW US ON:  Facebook Twitter Copyright © 2022 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publications, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA

* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
Subscribe | Shop the Bookstore What is cognitive reserve? 4f228e3a-9649-4642-85c0-412488a80728 An important concept that is crucial to the understanding of cognitive health is known as cognitive reserve. You can think of cognitive reserve as your brain’s ability to improvise and find alternate ways of getting a job done. Just like a powerful car that enables you to engage another gear and suddenly accelerate to avoid an obstacle, your brain can change the way it operates and thus make added resources available to cope with challenges. Cognitive reserve is developed by a lifetime of education and curiosity to help your brain better cope with any failures or declines it faces.  Get your copy of A Guide to Cognitive Fitness
  In this Special Health Report, Harvard Medical School doctors share a six-step program that can yield important and lasting results. Together these “super 6” can strengthen your intellectual prowess, promote your powers of recall, and protect the brain-based skills that are essential for full, rewarding, and independent living. From simple and specific changes in eating to ways to challenge your brain, this is guidance that will pay dividends for you and your future.

The concept of cognitive reserve originated in the late 1980s, when researchers described individuals with no apparent symptoms of dementia who were nonetheless found at autopsy to have brain changes consistent with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. These individuals did not show symptoms of the disease while they were alive because they had a large enough cognitive reserve to offset the damage and continue to function as usual.  Since then, research has shown that people with greater cognitive reserve are better able to stave off symptoms of degenerative brain changes associated with dementia or other brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or a stroke. A more robust cognitive reserve can also help you function better for longer if you’re exposed to unexpected life events, such as stress, surgery, or toxins in the environment. Such circumstances demand extra effort from your brain—similar to requiring a car to engage another gear. For strategies to help your mind stay sharp as you age, enroll in the Cognitive Fitness online learning course from Harvard Medical School. Image: gmac84/Getty Images Share this story: Featured in this issue
A Guide to Cognitive Fitness Featured content:
• Cognitive fitness: Your No. 1 health goal • How cognitive function is shaped over a lifetime • Medical conditions that affect the brain • STEP 1: Eat a plant-based diet • STEP 2: Exercise regularly • STEP 3: Get enough sleep  • STEP 4: Manage your stress
Click here to read more » Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 60 health topics.
Visit our website at https://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.

PHONE ORDERS – please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. You are currently subscribed to HEALTHbeat as michelleclarke@upcmail.ie.

UPDATE EMAIL FREQUENCY/PROFILE
UNSUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE TO HEALTHbeat
VIEW HEALTHbeat ARCHIVES
PRIVACY POLICY Visit our website at: https://www.health.harvard.edu
Email us at: healthbeat@health.harvard.edu

FOLLOW US ON:  Facebook Twitter Copyright © 2021 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publications, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA

* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
 

Leave a comment