It’s a misconception that cognitive decline is a normal part of aging. Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, an academic geriatrician at the University of Calgary and the academic lead of the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging, says that some small declines in cognition do happen as we get older, but that large changes should not necessarily be expected. “There are some subtle changes that happen. People may have declines in certain areas, but our lived experiences and larger knowledge bases often compensate so that typically, as we age, you shouldn’t see huge changes in cognition with normal aging,” Holroyd-Leduc explains. While aging does not make serious cognitive decline inevitable, the risk of developing age-related cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia does increase as we get older. Today, about one in four Canadians over 85 has been diagnosed with dementia while the number of individuals living with dementia is expected to grow to nearly one million by 2030. Healthy aging is becoming ever more important as the general population ages, with the number of seniors in Canada expected to rise 68 per cent over the next 20 years. RISK FACTORS FOR COGNITIVE DECLINE The exact causes of cognitive impairment are not fully understood. However, researchers have identified numerous risk factors that increase an individual’s chances of developing cognitive disorders as they age. Some of these are related to lifestyle — for instance, it’s best not to smoke, limit alcohol use, and eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. But it’s not just about what you put into your body, it’s what you do with it too. Staying physically active, especially as we age, is one of the most important things a person can do to maintain their cognitive health. “What’s good for the heart and body is also good for the brain. It doesn’t MAINTAIN YOUR BRAIN How to protect your cognitive health at any age. By Fabian Mayer | Illustrations by Mateusz Napieralski
have to be super vigorous exercise. Walking, particularly on a bit of an incline, is great,” says Holroyd-Leduc. “It’s not about going to the gym for 30 to 60 minutes and then sitting down the rest of the day. It’s about a healthy lifestyle, moving, doing things, walking, staying active throughout the day, trying to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.” Holroyd-Leduc says that the earlier healthy habits are formed, the better, but stresses that it’s never too late to start. She also encourages seniors not to let societal expectations about age stop them from living full physical and social lives. NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE HEALTHY CHANGES “We live in a society in North America that tends to be ageist, and there’s a relationship between ageism and poorer health outcomes. It’s not just ageism
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that’s directed towards an older adult but can also be internalized ageism,” says Holroyd- Leduc. “You can be ageist against yourself and start limiting what you do physically, what you do cognitively, your social interactions — all those things are really important for cognitively aging well.”
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Breakthroughs [ Fall 2025 ]
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