Physical activity, cognitive engagement, and good behaviors may help older persons minds stay sharper and experience less cognitive decline, according to new research that identifies lifestyle and genetic factors that affect brain aging.
In their quest for the keys to a healthier aging brain, scientists have found that daily decisions play a role in achieving sharp cognitive health in addition to heredity.
According to a recent study in Genomic Psychiatry, lifestyle choices including consistent exercise, quitting smoking, picking up a second language, and even picking up an instrument can all have a positive effect on cognitive aging.
According to Simon Cox, co-author of the study and head of the Lothian Birth Cohort Studies at the University of Edinburgh, adult behaviors are just as important as early-life intelligence in predicting certain elements of brain health later on.
He said, “We discovered that staying socially active, avoiding vascular risks like smoking and high blood pressure, and being mentally and physically active all contribute marginally to maintaining cognitive health.”
The study examined cognitive scores from childhood to age 70 and beyond using long-term data from two Scottish birth cohorts.
The results showed that whereas some people age well, maintaining mental clarity well into their 80s, others experience cognitive decline as a result of things like brain injury to the white matter, which slows down thinking.
The study emphasizes a straightforward but impactful point: little, frequent decisions, such as taking regular walks or pushing oneself intellectually, can pile up and possibly give the aging brain a better, sharper future.
