Building a strong cognitive reserve is essential for maintaining healthy brain function and preventing conditions like dementia. This is the theory put forth by neurologist Dr. Richard Restak in his book “How To Prevent Dementia”. According to him, cognitive reserve refers to the knowledge, experience, and life events that accumulate in our brains over a lifetime. The more cognitive reserve we have, the better protected we may be against conditions like dementia. And one of the most effective ways to build this reserve, according to Dr. Restak, is by reading fiction.
But it’s not just reading that can help us build our cognitive reserve. Alzheimer’s Research UK has launched a Think Brain Health campaign this year, which includes brain teasers and puzzles to challenge our minds and strengthen our cognitive reserve. These activities can be done in quiet moments, such as during our commute, and have been found to be beneficial in maintaining brain health as we age.
However, despite the benefits, a recent study by Alzheimer’s UK found that only 30% of UK adults engage in brain-teasing activities like crosswords and sudoku, and 32% say they do them less often now than they did a year ago. This is concerning, especially considering that 71% of us have free time during our commute, but choose to spend it scrolling through our phones or watching shows.
To address this issue, Alzheimer’s UK has created a brain teaser in collaboration with artist Chris Bishop. The image contains 40 hidden train station names in the UK, and the challenge is to find them all. This puzzle is designed to help people incorporate brain challenges into their daily routine and build their cognitive reserve.
Dr. Jacqui Hanley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, emphasizes the importance of building cognitive reserve at any age. She explains that even if someone with a high cognitive reserve develops dementia, they typically experience symptoms around five years later than those with a lower reserve. This highlights the importance of making positive lifestyle changes and incorporating brain challenges into our daily routine.
Dan Panes, Head of External Communications at Great Western Railway, who supported the release of the brain teaser, admits that even their colleagues found the puzzle challenging. This just goes to show that it’s never too late to start challenging our brains and building our cognitive reserve.
In addition to helping prevent dementia, engaging in brain-teasing activities has also been linked to reducing the risk of depression and improving overall brain health. So why not take a break from scrolling through social media or watching TV during your commute and try out the brain teaser? It’s a fun and beneficial way to fill those gaps in your schedule.
Alzheimer’s Research UK has also provided some tips for incorporating brain challenges into our daily routine. These include learning a new skill, playing a musical instrument, or even just taking a different route to work. These small changes can make a big difference in building our cognitive reserve and maintaining brain health.
In conclusion, building a strong cognitive reserve is crucial for maintaining healthy brain function and preventing conditions like dementia. Reading fiction and engaging in brain-teasing activities are effective ways to build this reserve and should be incorporated into our daily routine. So let’s take a break from our screens and start challenging our brains for a healthier and sharper mind.
