New Study: Enhancing Cognitive Abilities of Older Adults
A new soon-to-be-published scientific study will reveal whether or not the functional capacity of older adults can indeed be preserved and even enhanced.
According to the abstract published on the Wiley Interscience website, the primary focus of the study is to discern whether various kinds of intellectual, physical and social activities can improve people’s cognitive abilities at various times during their adult life, particularly old age.
The study’s theoretical framework is based on the hypothesis that “the potential for positive change, or plasticity, is maintained in adult cognition. It is an argument that is supported by newer research in neuroscience showing neural plasticity in various aspects of central nervous system functioning, neurochemistry and architecture.”
Benefits of Combined Mental and Physical Exercise
The results of the study are expected to further reinforce the belief that maintaining a mentally engaged and physically active lifestyle advances positive cognitive aging. The three main theories to be explored include:
1. The extent to which cognitive training studies support the notion that older adults can enhance their cognitive performance when intensive thinking and memory training is provided.
2. That maintaining an intellectually stimulating lifestyle helps preserve a person’s cognitive abilities, as well as reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
3. The idea that physical activities - particularly aerobic exercise - improve the cognitive functioning among older adults.
The authors behind the research include Christopher Hertzog (Georgia Institute of Technology), Arthur F. Kramer (University of Illinois), Robert S. Wilson (Rush University Medical Center), and Ulman Lindenberger (Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin).
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