Contemporary View of a Human Lifetime in a Super-Aging Society : the “Cognitive Reserve” Perspective

Abstract

  Individual difference in cognitive function increases with aging. However, the agerelated increase of individual difference in cognitive function is not necessary explained only by age-related changes of brain structures. The “cognitive reserve” concept has been proposed to explain the mysterious link between cognitive functions and brain structures in aging. The “cognitive reserve” concept is defined as the protection of cognitive functions against neuroanatomical losses due to aging or neuropathological disease, and is used to explain the age-related increase of individual difference in cognitive functions by the effect of lifestyles such as education, occupation, physical exercise, diet and social activity. In the present article, we would like to show examples of previous studies which have investigated how “cognitive reserve” in elderly people is modulated by physical exercise or diet as a lifestyle related to physical health and social activity as a lifestyle related to mental health. The “cognitive reserve” concept could contribute to understanding of agerelated increase of individual difference in cognitive function.