THEY were considered flukes. Older people found upon their deaths to have brains full of the plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, yet who had shown no signs of cognitive decline while alive. But then more cases appeared, and yet more. Something was protecting these people whose mental faculties remained bright, despite them facing the same destruction in their brain as others with memory loss, confusion and other symptoms of dementia.
As more brains were analysed, it was discovered that these cases aren鈥檛 rare. Up to 30 per cent of older people have enough plaques and tangles to be diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚, but never show any outward symptoms of the condition.
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What side we fall on seems to depend in part on an enigmatic concept known as 鈥渃ognitive reserve鈥�. For years, we have only been able to refer to it by analogy. Some see it as a cushion of sorts, a barrier that slows the effect of damage. Others liken it to the building of bypasses 鈥� alternate pathways for information to flow through when normal routes are destroyed.
Now, finally, we are on firmer ground. As we explore in our feature 鈥淲e may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer鈥檚鈥�, fascinating new evidence has pinpointed the likely brain proteins and anatomical features involved in maintaining the cognitive reserve. It is a fascinating step in our understanding of how the human brain withstands ageing. It also presents opportunities to boost the brain. The normal suggestions are there, such as better sleep and more exercise. And, of course, there is hope for a drug that bolsters cognitive reserve. But what gives us pause is the discovery that strong mental engagement and challenging cognitive activities are key. Just as yoga can give you the flexibility to withstand stiffening of joints in your later years, mental workouts appear to give the brain a flexibility that mitigates future damage.
Moreover, this seems to help at any age, overturning long-held assumptions that brain-boosting behaviour is a privilege of youth. This means there should be something each of us can do to build a better brain. It may just take some effort.
