HomeLarge Type Edition
HOME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 59:M940-M957 (2004)
© 2004 The Gerontological Society of America

REVIEW ARTICLE

Environmental Influences on Cognitive and Brain Plasticity During Aging

Arthur F. Kramer1,, Louis Bherer2, Stanley J. Colcombe1, Willie Dong1 and William T. Greenough1

1 Beckman Institute & Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana.
2 Departement de Psychologie, Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Canada.

Address correspondence to Arthur F. Kramer, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, 405 North Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801. E-mail: akramer{at}s.psych.uiuc.edu

In the current article, we provide a critical review of the extant literature that has focused on environmental influences on cognitive and brain plasticity over the adult life span. The review includes both human epidemiological, and human and nonhuman cross-sectional and longitudinal research. We review a number of factors that have been suggested to reduce age-related cognitive decline including both formal and informal education, leisure pursuits, intellectual engagement, and expertise in different skill domains. We also examine the literature on cognitive and physical fitness training. We conclude with a discussion of the gaps in the literature and suggestions for future research.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 FASEB J.Home page
A. Zanardi, R. Ferrari, G. Leo, U. Maskos, J.-P. Changeux, and M. Zoli
Loss of high-affinity nicotinic receptors increases the vulnerability to excitotoxic lesion and decreases the positive effects of an enriched environment
FASEB J, December 1, 2007; 21(14): 4028 - 4037.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social ScienceHome page
A. A. M. Bielak, T. F. Hughes, B. J. Small, and R. A. Dixon
It's Never Too Late to Engage in Lifestyle Activities: Significant Concurrent but not Change Relationships Between Lifestyle Activities and Cognitive Speed
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2007; 62(6): P331 - P339.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GerontologistHome page
T. Fritsch, M. J. McClendon, K. A. Smyth, A. J. Lerner, R. P. Friedland, and J. D. Larsen
Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Aging: The Role of Reserve and Lifestyle Factors Early in Life
Gerontologist, June 1, 2007; 47(3): 307 - 322.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social ScienceHome page
P. Ghisletta, J.-F. Bickel, and M. Lovden
Does activity engagement protect against cognitive decline in old age? Methodological and analytical considerations.
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2006; 61(5): P253 - P261.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Cereb CortexHome page
N. Raz, U. Lindenberger, K. M. Rodrigue, K. M. Kennedy, D. Head, A. Williamson, C. Dahle, D. Gerstorf, and J. D. Acker
Regional Brain Changes in Aging Healthy Adults: General Trends, Individual Differences and Modifiers
Cereb Cortex, November 1, 2005; 15(11): 1676 - 1689.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2004 by The Gerontological Society of America.