Research
Adherence
Cognitive engagement and mental stimulation build 'brain and cognitive reserve,' which delays the clinical manifestation of dementia and cognitive decline by increasing neural efficiency and structural resilience.
Actively engage in mentally stimulating activities such as learning a new language, playing musical instruments, solving puzzles, or participating in discussion groups. These activities build cognitive reserve, which helps delay the onset of dementia symptoms.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Cognitive reserve suggests that a person can mitigate the effects of brain pathology by deploying pre-existing processing approaches or by deriving alternative strategies [198, 199].
Why this rating
Supported by epidemiological studies and meta-analyses, though causal mechanisms are complex.
Source
Lifestyle Modulators of Neuroplasticity: How Physical Activity, Mental Engagement, and Diet Promote Cognitive Health during Aging
Cristy Phillips · Neural Plasticity · 2017
DOI 10.1155/2017/3589271
narrative_reviewCited 321×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Long-term physical activity (specifically aerobic exercise) promotes neuroplasticity and cognitive health in aging adults by upregulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), increasing hippocampal volume, and reducing neuroinflammation.Good
- Dietary intake of polyphenols (specifically curcumin from turmeric) reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, thereby supporting neuroplasticity and cognitive function in aging.Moderate
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