Science Friday

The Art And Science Of Staving Off Cognitive Decline

March 2, 2026

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  • The play "The Reservoir" explores the concept of cognitive reserve, which suggests brain-stimulating activities can delay the onset of dementia symptoms, drawing inspiration from the playwright's personal experiences with sobriety and family aging. 
  • A 20-year longitudinal study found that a modest amount of specialized speed of processing cognitive training, including booster sessions, reduced the risk of dementia diagnosis by 25% in adults aged 65 and older. 
  • Art, like the play discussed in this segment of "Science Friday," can contribute to the scientific conversation by posing questions about unknowns, such as the mechanisms behind cognitive reserve and the nature of diseases like alcoholism and Alzheimer's. 

Segments

Playwright on Cognitive Reserve
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(00:01:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The concept of cognitive reserve inspired playwright Jake Brasch’s semi-autobiographical play, “The Reservoir.”
  • Summary: The playwright Jake Brasch began writing “The Reservoir” after encountering the concept of cognitive reserve, realizing it overlapped with factors needed for sobriety. He emphasizes that art about science should prioritize story and character vividness over absolute scientific accuracy. The play uses humor to navigate difficult topics like alcoholism and Alzheimer’s, asking questions rather than providing definitive answers.
Cognitive Reserve and Sharp Decline
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(00:04:07)
  • Key Takeaway: A high cognitive reserve can lead to a sharper, more sudden decline when dementia symptoms eventually manifest.
  • Summary: Brasch observed that his highly accomplished grandmother, who maintained a high level of function until age 85, experienced a rapid decline once symptoms appeared. This observation aligns with the concept that a high cognitive reserve allows an individual to present as fully functional until the brain’s capacity is suddenly overwhelmed. Humor is utilized in the play as a coping mechanism, reflecting the family’s way of dealing with terrifying realities.
Dementia Risk Reduction Study
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(00:09:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Specialized speed of processing cognitive training reduced dementia risk by 25% over 20 years in older adults.
  • Summary: A gold standard, randomized study followed diverse older adults for two decades, finding that speed of processing training significantly lowered dementia risk. Participants completed the training for modest durations initially (six weeks, twice weekly) with booster sessions later, which reinforced the long-lasting protective effect. The magnitude of the 25% risk reduction is substantial, potentially offering significant societal benefits given the high cost of dementia care.
Details of Speed Training
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(00:14:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The effective cognitive training involved a task of divided attention, requiring rapid switching between central object identification and peripheral spatial location.
  • Summary: The successful training involved participants identifying objects centrally while simultaneously identifying signs in space peripherally, forcing divided attention. The exercise was adaptive, increasing in difficulty as the participant improved, which is hypothesized to increase brain connectivity. While the exact mechanism is unknown, this training provided benefits beyond standard healthy lifestyle activities like crosswords or exercise.
Accessing Home Training Exercise
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(00:17:28)
  • Key Takeaway: A similar cognitive training exercise called ‘Double Decision’ is available for home use via the company Posit Science.
  • Summary: The study suggests that modifiable lifestyle factors can buffer against dementia, and this specific training benefited all participants over 65, regardless of their exact age within that range. The training task, ‘Double Decision,’ is nearly identical to the one used in the study and can be accessed online. Researchers hope this finding stimulates further study into the brain mechanisms underlying these protective effects.