What are some mentally alerting activities to improve cognitive function?

Mentally Alerting Activities to Improve Cognitive Function

Engage in structured cognitive training programs combined with regular physical exercise, particularly resistance training, as these represent the most evidence-based approaches to enhance cognitive function and mental alertness.

Physical Exercise: The Foundation

Physical exercise is the single most effective intervention for improving cognitive function, with resistance training showing superior benefits compared to other exercise modalities 1.

Optimal Exercise Prescription

• Resistance training (strength/weight training) is the most potent modality for cognitive enhancement in older adults, outperforming aerobic exercise, mind-body activities, and dance 1.
• Clinically meaningful cognitive benefits can be achieved with lower doses than WHO guidelines when using resistance training 1.
• Combined aerobic and resistance training improves overall cognition, particularly in attention/concentration and visuospatial/executive function domains 1.
• Multicomponent exercise (combining different exercise types) is most effective for those with mild cognitive impairment 1.

Additional Beneficial Physical Activities

• Tai chi and yoga improve balance, quality of life, and mental health while providing cognitive stimulation 1.
• Active-play video games requiring upper and lower limb movement can achieve moderate to vigorous physical activity levels while engaging cognitive processes 1.
• Daily lifestyle activities including walking breaks, gardening, and household chores contribute to cognitive maintenance 1.

Cognitive Training and Stimulation

Structured cognitive training programs using diverse strategies are reasonable interventions for improving attention, memory, and executive functioning 1.

Specific Cognitive Training Approaches

• Computer-based and group cognitive training should be offered to individuals at risk for cognitive decline or those with mild cognitive impairment 1.
• Training programs should include practice requiring attention, planning, and working memory using both pencil-and-paper and computerized activities 1.
• Face-to-face training produces greater improvements in problem-solving self-efficacy compared to online or computer-only training 1.
• Cognitive stimulation therapy in group settings provides enjoyable activities for thinking, concentration, and memory enhancement 1.

Compensatory Strategies

• Internal strategies include visual imagery, semantic organization, and spaced practice for memory enhancement 1.
• External memory aids such as notebooks, paging systems, computers, and prompting devices can improve functional independence 1.
• These compensatory approaches are particularly useful when cognitive training alone shows limited transfer to everyday functioning 1.

Cognitively Stimulating Activities

Increase engagement in a variety of cognitively stimulating pastimes, volunteering, and lifelong learning activities 1.

Recommended Activities

• Diverse cognitive engagement is preferable to focusing on single activities 1.
• Cognitively stimulating pastimes should be maintained or increased throughout life 1.
• Enriched environments that increase engagement with cognitive activities are specifically recommended 1.

Problem-Solving Therapy

Problem-solving therapy (PST) represents an effective cognitive-behavioral intervention that trains adaptive problem-solving attitudes and skills 2, 3, 4.

PST Components and Effectiveness

• PST is as effective as antidepressants for treating depression and significantly more effective than no treatment 3, 4.
• Most effective programs include training in positive problem orientation plus all four major problem-solving skills: problem definition, generation of alternatives, decision making, and solution implementation 4.
• PST improves mental health-related quality of life and problem-solving abilities in older adults 5.
• The intervention involves sequential stages where patients learn empowering skills to determine and implement self-selected solutions 3.

Social and Educational Engagement

Maintain social engagement and pursue ongoing educational experiences throughout mid and later life 1.

Key Recommendations

• Social circumstances and supports across the life course, including opportunities for social engagement, should be prioritized 1.
• Educational attainment in early life is strongly recommended, with continued educational experiences beneficial in later life 1.
• Group-based activities provide both cognitive stimulation and social benefits 1.

Important Caveats

Durability and Transfer Concerns

• Most cognitive rehabilitation programs show immediate effects on standardized tests, but few studies assess durability of treatment effects or relevance to everyday functioning 1.
• Studies examining cognitive training have highly varied content, making direct comparisons difficult 1.

Individual Factors

• Biological sex may moderate effects, with some evidence suggesting superior exercise effects on cognition in older women compared to men 1.
• Obesity status may influence the relationship between exercise and cognitive outcomes 1.
• Baseline cognitive abilities vary widely in studies, affecting interpretation of results 1.

Practical Implementation

• Supervised exercise interventions during hospitalization are safe and effective for attenuating functional and cognitive decline 1.
• Exercise should be individualized based on functional level, with each patient receiving appropriate prescription regardless of baseline function 1.
• Behavioral aspects must be considered to ensure adherence and motivation for maintaining physically and cognitively active lifestyles 1.