Environmental and Cognitive Enrichment in Childhood as Protective Factors in the Adult and Aging Brain

Abstract

Some recent studies have highlighted a link between a favorable childhood environment and the strengthening of neuronal resilience against the changes that occur in natural aging neurodegenerative disease. Many works have assessed the factors-both internal and external-that can contribute to delay the phenotype of an ongoing neurodegenerative brain pathology. At the crossroads of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, these relationships are unified by the concept of cognitive reserve (CR). This review focuses on the protective effects of maintaining this CR through the cognitive aging process, and emphasizes the most essential time in life for the development and strengthening of this CR. The in-depth study of this research shows that early stimulation with regard to social and sensory interactions, contributes to the proper development of cognitive, affective and psychosocial capacities. Childhood thus appears to be the most active phase in the development of CR, and as such we hypothesize that this constitutes the first essential period of primary prevention of pathological aging and loss of cognitive capacities. If this hypothesis is correct, early stimulation of the environment would therefore be considered as a true primary prevention and a public health issue. The earlier identification of neurodevelopmental disorders, which can affect personal and professional development across the lifespan, could therefore have longer-term impacts and provide better protection against aging.

Mediation Role of Physical Fitness and Its Components on the Association Between Distribution-Related Fat Indicators and Adolescents’ Cognitive Performance: Exploring the Influence of School Vulnerability. The Cogni-Action Project

“…Many strategies have been suggested to improve children and adolescents’ cognitive performance (Diamond and Ling, 2016 ; Schoentgen et al, 2020 ). For this purpose, physical fitness seems to be an enjoyable and low-cost approach associated with reducing body fat mass and the influence of social vulnerability (Yang et al, 2007 ; Åberg et al, 2009 ).…”

Could Physical Fitness Be Considered as a Protective Social Factor Associated with Bridging the Cognitive Gap Related to School Vulnerability in Adolescents? The Cogni-Action Project

“…Many strategies related to improvements in children and adolescent cognitive functioning reducing future social and health concerns [ 4 , 10 , 11 ]. Physical fitness has seemed to be a potent factor that enhances cognitive performance throughout the life cycle [ 12 ].…”

A Perspective on Strategic Enrichment for Brain Development: Is This the Key to Animal Happiness?

“…However, neurogenesis and maturation does also occur in the adult brain (35). As the brain matures it is modulated by the sensory input it receives including social contact such as maternal care [e.g., (36)], exercise [e.g., (37)], cognitive stimulation (38) and physical enrichments vs. impoverished surroundings (39). There is clear evidence from decades of research with humans, laboratory animals, and fish that provision of an enriched, stimulatory environment during both rearing and adult periods has positive impacts on the development, maturation, and plasticity of the brain [see reviews in (40)(41)(42)].…”