Belleville, Sylvie
Cognitive interventions to enhance cognition and cognitive reserve in older adults: Approaches, challenges, and Solutions
- 2025.
21
The amount of cognitive stimulation individuals receive throughout their lives has been identified as a key factor in reducing age-related cognitive decline or the cognitive decline associated with neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive stimulation may have a beneficial effect by preserving brain function or increasing cognitive reserve, a mechanism thought to compensate for brain alterations and mitigate their effects on cognitive function. In this context, cognitive interventions in later life appear to be a promising tool for maintaining or improving cognitive abilities in older adults, stimulating their cognitive reserve, and reducing the impact of cognitive deficits on their daily functioning. This article examines the potential of cognitive interventions for older adults and presents five major challenges associated with their development and implementation, along with possible solutions to overcome these challenges and ensure their relevance. The challenges identified relate to 1) the effectiveness of cognitive interventions, 2) appropriate dosing, 3) the transfer of acquired skills, 4) underlying neurocognitive mechanisms, and 5) program accessibility. We propose a reflection on cognitive interventions aimed at promoting cognitive health in older adults, highlighting current challenges and perspectives for improvement to optimize their impact.