Cognitive reserve

Studies indicate that up to two-thirds of people with autopsy findings of Alzheimer’s disease were cognitively intact when they died.

“Something must account for the disjunction between the degree of brain damage and its outcome,” the Columbia scientists deduced. And that something, they and others suggest, is “cognitive reserve.”

The brains of animals exposed to greater physical and mental stimulation appear to have a greater number of healthy nerve cells and connections between them. Scientists theorize that this excess of working neurons and interconnections compensates for damaged ones to ward off dementia.

Observing this, neuropsychologists, set out to determine how people can develop cognitive reserve. They have learned thus far that there is no “quick fix” for the aging brain.

Nonetheless, well-designed studies suggest several ways to improve the brain’s viability. Though best to start early to build up cognitive reserve, there is evidence that this account can be replenished even late in life.

Cognitive reserve is greater in people who complete higher levels of education. The more intellectual challenges to the brain early in life, the more neurons and connections the brain is likely to develop and perhaps maintain into later years. Several studies of normal aging have found that higher levels of educational attainment were associated with slower cognitive and functional decline.

Cognitive reserve probably reflects an interconnection between genetic intelligence and education, since more intelligent people are likely to complete higher levels of education.

Better-educated people may go on to choose more intellectually demanding occupations and pursue brain-stimulating hobbies, resulting in a form of lifelong learning. Novelty is crucial to providing stimulation for the aging brain.

Repetition without introducing new mental challenges won’t be beneficial, brain requires continued stresses to maintain or enhance its strength.

New York Times, Mental reserves keep the brain agile, Dec 12



Natural Human hormone as the next antidepressant?

Kamilla Miskowiak, a DPhil Student from the Department of Experimental Psychology, said: ‘Although depression is often related to problems in the chemistry of the brain, recent evidence also suggests that there may be structural problems as well with nerve cells not being regenerated as fast as normal, or suffering from toxic effects of stress and stress hormones.’


The researchers evaluated the effects of Epo on the neural and cognitive processing of emotional information in 23 healthy volunteers using pictures of happy and fearful faces, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Facial expressions of emotion provide important biological signals in human interaction. Expressions of fear may signal threat and are the most salient of our basic emotions. The researchers focused on the effects of Epo on this ‘threat relevant information.’

Results showed that Epo regulated the emotional responses of those volunteers that received it, similar to the effects of current antidepressants. A single dose of Epo reduced the cognitive and neural processing of threat relevant information in a remarkably similar way to established anti-depressant drugs, even though the test was performed seven days after administration.

The World Health Organisation has identified depression as an urgent health priority with the need for better and more effective treatment options, and Miskowiak said: ‘This finding provides support to the idea that Epo affects neurocognitive function in ways compatible with an antidepressant action and may be a candidate agent for future treatment strategies for depression.’

Oxford Univ., 6 Dec, www.ox.ac.uk/media







The Social Services dept, though staffed with some really tremendous people, seem to me to be better named the 'Social Judgement Dept.' as that seems to be their function as deemed by the State, particularly this government.

Here's the science:
Mixed anxiety & depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain, with almost 9 percent of people meeting criteria for diagnosis.
- The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity report (2001)
Between 8-12% of the population experience depression in any year
- The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity report (2001)
About half of people with common mental health problems are no longer affected after 18 months, but poorer people, the long-term sick and unemployed people are more likely to be still affected than the general population.
- Better Or Worse: A Longitudinal Study Of The Mental Health Of Adults In Great Britain, National Statistics (2003)
Depression is more common in women than men. 1 in 4 women will require treatment for depression at some time, compared to 1 in 10 men.
- National Institute For Clinical Excellence (2003)

- The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity report (2001)
More than 70% of the prison population has two or more mental health disorders. Male prisoners are 14 times more likely to have two or more disorders than men in general, and female prisoners 35 times more likely than women in general

- Social Exclusion Unit (2004) quoting, Psychiatric Morbidity Among Prisoners In England And Wales, (1998)

One in four unemployed people has a common mental health problem
- The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity report (2001)
So around 10% of the population experience depression in any year.

www.boris-johnson.com, Comments



The cost is enormous, the report says, with 70m working days a year written off because of sickness. Mental health problems cost British businesses an average of £1,000 a year for every employee, researchers say. The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health said the overall annual cost to employers, including time off work and lost productivity, is nearly £26bn.

BBC, Mental health costs UK billions, 3 Dec, 2007