The Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic and the Brave New Digital World of Environmental Enrichment to Prevent Brain Aging and Cognitive Decline

Abstract

Individuals experiencing brain aging, cognitive decline, and dementia are currently confronted with several more complex challenges due to the current Sars-Cov-2 pandemic as compared to younger and cognitively healthy people. During the first six months of the pandemic, we are experiencing critical issues related to the management of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The evolving, highly contagious global viral spread has created a pressure test of unprecedented proportions for the existing brain health care infrastructure and related services for management, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Social distancing and lock-down measures are catalyzing and accelerating a technological paradigm shift, away from a traditional model of brain healthcare focused on late symptomatic disease stages and towards optimized preventive strategies to slow brain aging and increase resilience at preclinical asymptomatic stages. Digital technologies transform global healthcare for accessible equality of opportunities in order to generate better outcomes for brain aging aligned with the paradigm of preventive medicine.

Association of COVID-19 Pandemic and Rate of Cognitive Decline in Patients with Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-sectional Study

“…The more socially active older adults, the less cognitive decline they experience, and vice versa (James et al, 2011). Some studies further suggest that multi-sensory cognitive stimulation, termed “environmental enrichment,” can induce hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity through epigenetic changes, in addition to increase brain resilience to stress and cognitive reserve (Hampel and Vergallo, 2020).…”

Quality of life, mood, and cognitive performance in older adults with cognitive impairment during the first wave of COVID 19 in Argentina

“…Notably, those patients who lived alone showed better performance in TYM. This result may be due to a possible learning effect or, as reported by Hampel and Vergallo, 14 a better handling of technologic tools (new tools for many of the patients at the beginning of isolation). Besides, it is possible that those who lived alone had a better performance in their daily activities and therefore a lower compromise of their cognitive functions.…”

“… 13 Given this shortcoming, both health professionals and patients have had to adapt to virtual monitoring and treatment. 14 …”

“…Both the impact of the outbreak itself and the isolation measures during quarantine, beyond interpersonal ties, have affected doctor–patient relationship 11,12 generating a lack of clinical control capable of modifying changes in people's lifestyle and cognitive performance 13 . Given this shortcoming, both health professionals and patients have had to adapt to virtual monitoring and treatment 14 …”

“…13 Given this shortcoming, both health professionals and patients have had to adapt to virtual monitoring and treatment. 14 Argentina is one of the countries with the oldest population in Latin America. The population 60 years and older amounts to 15.7% of the total population in 2020, almost 7.1 million people.…”