Staying connected and enjoying meaningful activities may help protect brain health as we get older, with Australian research exploring why some people remain more resilient after traumatic life experiences.
An Adelaide University study involving 745 adults aged 50 to 86 examined the links between trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms and cognitive performance.
The findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggest that people with higher “cognitive reserve” may be better buffered against the cognitive and psychological impacts of trauma.
Understanding cognitive reserve
Cognitive reserve describes the brain’s capacity to adapt and cope with changes associated with ageing. It is thought to develop through enriching experiences across life, including education and leisure activities.
Researcher Dr Sabrina Sghirripa said discussions about healthy brain ageing often focus on staying active and socially engaged. However, understanding the influence of difficult life experiences is also essential.
About 87 per cent of participants reported directly experiencing at least one traumatic event. Yet experiencing trauma does not necessarily mean someone will develop cognitive difficulties later in life.
Building resilience through life
Participants completed assessments covering exposure to traumatic events, post-traumatic stress symptoms, cognitive performance and measures of cognitive reserve.
Higher cognitive reserve was associated with weaker links between traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress symptoms and poorer cognitive performance.
The findings point to cognitive reserve as a possible source of resilience. However, the study identified associations rather than proving that particular activities prevent trauma-related cognitive difficulties.
Dr Sghirripa said leisure activities and social engagement could offer opportunities to support cognitive reserve in later life.
For people who have experienced adversity, the research offers an encouraging message: difficult experiences do not inevitably lead to poorer wellbeing as they get older.
“Staying socially connected and engaged in meaningful activities may help protect cognitive and mental health in later life,” she said.