TY - JOUR
T1 - Productive Social Engagement as a Vehicle to Promote Activity and Neuro-Cognitive Health in Later Adulthood
AU - Carlson, Michelle C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10/1
Y1 - 2021/10/1
N2 - Objective: We have witnessed two key findings that shift our understanding of human brain aging in new directions. First, we learned that the adult brain remains plastic beyond childhood development, generating new neurons in response to activity and new experiences, particularly in regions that integrate memories in social contexts. The second emerging finding is the importance of physical activity and social engagement to cognitive aging. I integrate these and other empirical findings with our understanding of brain development over the life span and the later-life developmental need to give back to younger generations to posit the importance of maintaining our “social” brain through retirement and into later life when activity remains beneficial to brain health. Conclusions: Opportunities for improved cognitive and brain health that can be brought to scale need to capitalize on aging adults’ need to remain socially relevant and on community infrastructures so that those with lower neighborhood access to activity can safely engage. Evidence is summarized here from one such community-based model of social engagement through school-based, volunteer service, entitled Experience Corps®. This program seeks to increase daily physical, cognitive, and social activity to promote cognitive and mental health.
AB - Objective: We have witnessed two key findings that shift our understanding of human brain aging in new directions. First, we learned that the adult brain remains plastic beyond childhood development, generating new neurons in response to activity and new experiences, particularly in regions that integrate memories in social contexts. The second emerging finding is the importance of physical activity and social engagement to cognitive aging. I integrate these and other empirical findings with our understanding of brain development over the life span and the later-life developmental need to give back to younger generations to posit the importance of maintaining our “social” brain through retirement and into later life when activity remains beneficial to brain health. Conclusions: Opportunities for improved cognitive and brain health that can be brought to scale need to capitalize on aging adults’ need to remain socially relevant and on community infrastructures so that those with lower neighborhood access to activity can safely engage. Evidence is summarized here from one such community-based model of social engagement through school-based, volunteer service, entitled Experience Corps®. This program seeks to increase daily physical, cognitive, and social activity to promote cognitive and mental health.
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U2 - 10.1093/arclin/acab058
DO - 10.1093/arclin/acab058
M3 - Article
C2 - 34651650
AN - SCOPUS:85118515002
SN - 0887-6177
VL - 36
SP - 1274
EP - 1278
JO - Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
JF - Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
IS - 7
ER -