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Neuronal and cognitive plasticity: a neurocognitive framework for ameliorating cognitive aging.
Pamela M Greenwood1, Raja Parasuraman
1Arch Laboratory, Psychology Department, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Successful cognitive aging relies on the interplay between brain plasticity and cognitive plasticity. Learning, novelty, diet, and exercise can enhance these processes, promoting healthy brain function in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
- Neuroplasticity
Background:
- Significant individual differences exist in cognitive function among older adults.
- The aging brain retains capacity for both neuronal and cognitive plasticity.
- Environmental and experiential factors influence brain plasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the neurocognitive basis of individual differences in late-life cognitive functioning.
- To investigate the interaction between neuronal plasticity and cognitive plasticity in successful aging.
- To identify factors that stimulate and enhance these plasticities.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on neuronal and cognitive plasticity in healthy aging.
- Examination of factors influencing neural plasticity, including learning, novelty, diet, and exercise.
- Assessment of how education and training affect cognitive plasticity.
Main Results:
- Neuronal plasticity involves neuron-level changes (neurogenesis, synaptogenesis) stimulated by experience.
- Cognitive plasticity involves adaptive changes in cognition linked to brain activity.
- Evidence suggests neural plasticity underpins cognitive plasticity, and vice versa.
Conclusions:
- Successful cognitive aging likely requires the synergistic interaction of neuronal and cognitive plasticity.
- Factors like learning, novelty, specific diets, aerobic exercise, education, and training can enhance plasticity.
- This hypothesis is testable via human randomized trials examining combined interventions.
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