The more of these networks and subnetworks that we have built up over our lifetime, via education or experience, or by developing complex skills such as speaking a foreign language or playing a musical instrument, the more resistant to cognitive decline we will tend to be.

We now know new neurons and other brain cells can form throughout life, particularly in the hippocampus. Neurogenesis helps us maintain cognitive function, memory, and emotional well-being as we age. However, our daily habits strongly influence neurogenesis. Physical exercise, intellectual stimulation, and nutritious eating support neuron growth. C

the brain’s incredible plasticity means you can not only offset that shrinkage but also enlarge a healthy brain. You know that such growth will help improve your clarity, memory, and creativity, and that it can also reduce your risk for late-life Alzheimer’s disease. But why? The answer lies in a concept neuroscientists call brain reserve. Brain re