Training the mind and emotional skills may support brain health after 65
Education, intellectually stimulating work and an active lifestyle help preserve cognitive abilities in adults over 65 and lead to more effective verbal expression and stronger cognitive performance. But there is another important factor: emotions. The way we recognize and interpret them can significantly influence the efficiency of cognitive processes as we age.
Studying older adults over the age of 65, researchers from the SISSA laboratory in Trieste, Italy have determined that emotional intelligence and cognitive reserve are crucial to preserving cognitive function in later life. Cognitive reserve, accumulated throughout life through education and intellectual engagement, aids individuals in language tasks, allowing them to express themselves more effectively and retrieve the right words.
The first study found that those with higher cognitive reserve performed better in language tasks, demonstrating an ability to convey ideas more readily. Positive emotions also enhanced language performance in these individuals. The second study revealed that cognitive reserve also supports working memory, the capacity to hold, process, and use information temporarily while completing a task.
Interestingly, emotional intelligence, or the ability to recognize, understand, and use emotions to guide thinking, behavior, and relationships, significantly influenced participants' responses to emotional stimuli.
In essence, the findings support the notion that a stimulating life, rich in intellectual activities, contributes to maintaining cognitive function as we age. Moreover, the researchers discovered that cognitive and emotional resources work synergistically to promote healthy and efficient cognitive aging. The study was part of the Age-It program, a significant Italian research initiative examining the challenges and opportunities associated with population aging.
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