Let your mind wander, don’t retire and stop worrying: surprising ways to help save your brain from the cognitive cliff
In his new book, The Brain Cliff, Dr Norman Swan outlines the science of brain ageing and strategies for staving off cognitive decline
TL;DR
- Cognitive aging should be viewed as cognitive change, not decline, as our brains build 'scaffolding' to maintain function.
- Fluid intelligence peaks in the 20s, but crystallized intelligence (knowledge and experience) can improve with age.
- Scaffolding involves building nerve networks, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, to support judgment, decision-making, and emotional control.
- Encouraging scaffolding involves activities like exercise, an anti-inflammatory diet, mind-wandering, and mental time travel.
- Genes play a small role in cognitive aging; environment and lifestyle are much more important.
- Rumination and stress can negatively impact the prefrontal cortex and accelerate cognitive change.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy can help manage rumination and stress.
- Retirement is often detrimental to brain health; staying engaged through new activities or work is beneficial.