Environment as 'Brain Training': A review of geographical and physical environmental influences on cognitive ageing

Marica Cassarino; Annalisa Setti

doi:10.1016/j.arr.2015.06.003

Environment as 'Brain Training': A review of geographical and physical environmental influences on cognitive ageing

Ageing Res Rev. 2015 Sep;23(Pt B):167-82. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2015.06.003. Epub 2015 Jul 2.

Authors

Marica Cassarino¹, Annalisa Setti²

Affiliations

¹ School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: mcassarino@ucc.ie.
² School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland; Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

PMID: 26144974
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2015.06.003

Abstract

Global ageing demographics coupled with increased urbanisation pose major challenges to the provision of optimal living environments for older persons, particularly in relation to cognitive health. Although animal studies emphasize the benefits of enriched environments for cognition, and brain training interventions have shown that maintaining or improving cognitive vitality in older age is possible, our knowledge of the characteristics of our physical environment which are protective for cognitive ageing is lacking. The present review analyses different environmental characteristics (e.g. urban vs. rural settings, presence of green) in relation to cognitive performance in ageing. Studies of direct and indirect associations between physical environment and cognitive performance are reviewed in order to describe the evidence that our living contexts constitute a measurable factor in determining cognitive ageing.

Keywords: Aging; Brain training; Cognitive reserve; Environment; Urban; Walkability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Aging / physiology*
Aging / psychology*
Brain / physiology*
Cognition / physiology*
Cognition Disorders / epidemiology*
Cognition Disorders / etiology
Environment
Humans
Rural Population
Socioeconomic Factors
Urban Population