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Episode 106 · How the Brain Works
Why Some Brains Stay Sharp Despite Damage
Two brains can show the same physical damage, yet one person stays sharp and the other does not. The difference is how much backup the brain has built.
The Science
- Stern (2012, Lancet Neurol): cognitive reserve explains why, for the same level of brain pathology, some people show far less impairment than others.
- Education, occupational complexity, and engaged activity are repeatedly linked to greater reserve and delayed onset of dementia symptoms.
- Reserve reflects how flexibly the brain uses its networks, not simply how much tissue is intact.
The Protocol
- Keep learning things that are genuinely new and effortful.
- Maintain real, active social relationships.
- Stay physically active, which supports brain networks.
- Favor variety over repeating one comfortable routine.
One-page summary
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The science beat (5-sec loop)
Sources
- Stern Y. (2012). Cognitive reserve in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. The Lancet Neurology, 11(11), 1006-1012.
- Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), 413-446.
Educational content only. Not medical advice.
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