On 23 Mar 2010 at 7:22, Lilienfeld, Scott O wrote: > I'm definitely no expert on this one, but my distinct impression is that > it's far too early to call > "use it or lose it" a myth. The famous "nun study" and several other > longitudinal studies point to > possible benefits of "cognitive exercise" and mental activity as protective > factors against > dementing illness, although my understanding is that the causal direction > here is still somewhat > controversial (people with better cognitive reserves to start with may be > more likely to engage in > cognitive exercise). Attempts to control for potential covariates still point > to possible causal > effects of cognitive exercise, but I'm not sure the issue is resolved > conclusively.
My impression is similar to that of Scott's, that there is some evidence that mental activity (doing crossword puzzles, say), is protective of cognitive function in the elderly. But I also agree that the main problem is in deciding whether it's more a case of "those who can, do" rather than "use it or lose it". One of the earliest signs of dementia may be an inability to carry out cognitive exercises and a corresponding lack of interest in them. Rather than a cause of dementia, it may be an early result. My mother, for example, was an avid devotee of crossword puzzles, and I used to clip them out from the newspaper and enlarge them on a photocopier for her poor vision. But I knew something was up when she started leaving them undone. The best evidence, I believe, for a protective effect against cognitive decline is not mental activity, but physical. For example, a recent Cochrane review (Angevaren et al, 2008) of randomized controlled trials cautiously concludes: "There is evidence that aerobic physical activities which improve cardiorespiratory fitness are beneficial for cognitive function in healthy older adults, with effects observed for motor function, cognitive speed, delayed memory functions and auditory and visual attention. However, the majority of comparisons yielded no significant results". Me, I'm getting regular doses of skiing and tennis just in case. Well no, actually, because they're fun. But it would be ok if they helped as well. Now, where did I leave my car keys? Stephen Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD005381. Physical activity and enhanced fitness to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment. Angevaren M, Aufdemkampe G, Verhaar HJ, Aleman A, Vanhees L. -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1479 or send a blank email to leave-1479-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
