COGNITIVE AGEING BETWEEN CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF LIFESTYLE AND CATCH-UP COGNITIVE INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

Normal neurocognitive aging is characterized by its selective effect on the damaged neuronal regions and at the cognitive level. This heterogeneous nature constituted a strong motive for deepening the research on the causes of the emergence of interindividual cognitive differences within the same age group, helped by functional brain imaging techniques. The study starts from this premise and aims to shed light on the concept of "successful aging" from a neurocognitive perspective. This concept is at the center of attention of many researchers in various disciplines as it is related to two basic concepts: The firs concept is "brain reserve." It is related to people’s lifestyle, and is built and accumulated over the course of life through people's behaviours that are neurologically, and cognitively (reserve indicators) stimulated. The second concept is "Overdue reserve”. It is related to intensive cognitive interventions (indicators of Overdue reserve), as a catch-up and efficient mechanism that enables people with low levels of brain reserve to stimulate neuroplasticity, which contributes to enhance their cognitive performance. This study aims to explore the appropriate conditions, and effective ways, to help people develop functional neurological resistance against the decline that characterizes human cognition with advancing age. Hence, maintaining proper cognitive functioning contributes to improving the quality of life of seniors as well as enabling them to age healthily: psychologically, cognitively, and socially.