Cognitive reserve is an important multi-dimensional concept that is beneficial to understand for preserving the health of your brain for as long as possible. It provides the best chance for fighting back against normal brain aging and age-associated brain disorders, like dementia. Cognitive reserve is an evidence-based idea proposed by Columbia University neuropsychologist Dr. Yaakov…
Category: Articles
What is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a detectable cognitive disorder, which falls between the cracks of normal age-related memory changes and dementia. MCI affects approximately 10-20 percent of those older than 65 and is defined by a relative decline in cognitive skills, including memory, problem solving, planning, organization or multi-tasking. However, the decline is not severe…
The Five Most Common Questions About Dementia
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. It occurs when once-healthy brain cells die or stop working well and lose connections with other brain cells. Â The results in a loss of the ability to think, remember, or reason to the extent that it interferes with ones ability to do everyday activities like driving, managing…
Dementia and Driving: A Difficult Conversation
If you are a caregiver to someone with dementia or living with memory loss yourself, you know there are many important decisions to make along the way. One of the most important decisions is knowing when to stop or limit driving. Most people will struggle with balancing two important issues: the freedom and independence of…
Alcohol and the Aging Brain
Alcohol is the most common addictive substance used among older adults. Approximately 50 percent of men and 40 percent of women age 60 or older drink alcohol on a regular basis. There is a large body of research to suggest that alcohol in small amounts can be healthy. The cardiovascular benefits of red wine with…
Are You at Risk for Post-Surgical Cognitive Decline?
A hospital stay is one of the more stressful experiences we can have. Emergency or planned surgeries, in particular, can really take us out of our comfort zone in more ways than one. Doctors and nurses do an excellent job taking care of us, but at a time when a person needs a lot of…