Okay, so this topic may be a little complicated
for you, but let me try and explain. Have you heard of cognitive reserve?
In the 1980’s, scientists and researchers were
baffled to find that post mortem specimens of the human brain had changes
suggestive of Alzheimer’s disease in subjects who had led completely normal
lives and had not had any memory problems when alive.
This is when the phenomenon
of cognitive reserve emerged.
Cognitive reserve is a phenomenon where the
brain fights the development of the any damage. It is the resistance against
damage.
Imagine you are driving a car. An ambulance starts to siren behind you,
and you must move your car. You change gears and speed up to move to a location
where the ambulance has sufficient room to pass through.
Similarly, at times of need, the brain has the
ability to ‘change gears’ to function at a higher capacity. This can occur
despite there being brain damage or age-related change.
This capability is
cognitive reserve.
Medically, it is the ‘hypothesized capacity of
mature adult brain to sustain the effects of disease or injury without
manifesting clinically'.
'It accounts for individual differences in the cognitive
processes and neural networks which allow one to cope better than others with
the brain damage'.
Those with a better reserve tend to avoid
developing problems such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and similar
problems. They can manage unexpected life events such as financial stress, loss
of a loved one and similar scenarios in a better manner.
These circumstances
require your brain to function differently, and this depends on how good your
cognitive reserve is.
Learning a new skill, reading, continuing your work for as long as possible, exercising your body and your mind and eating a healthy diet are all linked to your brain’s reserve function.
Enjoy your hobbies. They will keep your mind active and sharp for years to come!!
